Curtain to rise on young Manx writer's debut play

In Their Blood runs from Thursday to Saturday at the King's Court Theatre in Castletown

A young actor and writer's debut play about the Isle of Man's mining community in the 1800s is set to be performed for the first time later.

Orry Wilson's play - In Their Blood - follows Aldyn, a miner with dreams of going to America for a better life, only to be pulled back by his ties to the island.

Aldyn will be played by 18-year-old Wilson in the three-show run at the King's Court Theatre in Castletown.

The teenager will then take up a place at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in September.

The former Young Singer of Mann & Young Actor of Mann said it has been "an out-of-body experience" seeing the cast bring his play to life.

He said it had been an "interesting" process researching and writing his first play, with drafts and revisions, and collaborating with director David Dawson.

Wilson said he was "really proud" of the finished product.

He said he had tried to capture how people had lived during the 1830s and to bring their stories and struggles to life.

The teenager said he said felt "lucky" to work with "a room full of really great local actors that I've admired for years performing words that I've written".

Playwright and actor Orry Wilson will perform the lead role

Produced by Parodos Theatre Company, the play also features an original score by David Kilgallon.

Alex Armstrong from the company said the team had wanted to provide an "opportunity for new talent to showcase their work".

He said Wilson had "expertly crafted" a "gripping tale" which he hoped Manx audiences would love.

Director Dawson said it had been "exciting... to get your hands on an absolutely fresh piece of a text".

He added: "I'm also a proud Manxie so to be working on a piece that was historically accurate and also so close to home [had been] really wonderful to be able to do.

"Orry's done an absolutely incredible job, I want people who come to see it and go away with faith in future productions written by young, local talent."

In Their Blood runs from Thursday to Saturday at the King's Court Theatre in Castletown.