Local playwright Dave Garlick is taking his debut play to London.

The Essex University MA graduate, who lives in Clacton, has already staged Face Down in a Land of Freedom at the Wivenhoe Campus last year and after setting up his own theatre company, CO15, is now looking to break into the London Fringe.

Dave says: “The play is about truth and lies but also the ethics of verbatim theatre.

"For me Co15 theatre was born out of necessity – a necessity to highlight the exceptional talent based in ‘deepest darkest’ Essex – putting a positive vibe on an area that has become infamous for unemployment and antisocial behaviour.

"We are a brand new performance based company that supports, but is not exclusive to, the working classes; taking positive action to challenge assumptions whilst giving young impassioned performers a springboard into the arts industry."

Lead singer and songwriter for the Lowriders, Dave knows all about the entertainment industry having played in bands for most of his life as well as acting in several plays and films, including a cameo in Colchester director Ronnie Thompson’s latest blockbuster, The Hatton Garden Job. He’s also appearing in this play, alongside Eleanor Gray, Jasmin Metcalfe, Lola Garlick, Zara Gray, Jack Sears and Joe McCarthy.

Face Down in a Land of Freedom is at the Courtyard Theatre, Hoxton, London, from Monday to Wednesday next week.

Tickets for the show are £14, and £11 for concessions, available from www.thecourtyard.org.uk