BRISTOL Old Vic is delighted to welcome a Bristol Ferment success story back to Bristol Old Vic, following a critically acclaimed run at Theatre503, where it has been nominated for six Off West End awards, including Most Promising Playwright.

Bea Roberts' 'And Then Come The Nightjars' was developed through Bristol Old Vic Ferment in 2012, and was selected from over 1,600 entries to be named as joint winner of the inaugural Theatre503 Playwriting Award in 2014. A ground breaking new producing partnership was formed between Bristol Old Vic and Theatre 503 to bring the play to London and Bristol.

As disease ravages the South Devon countryside, Michael desperately barricades his farm and home against a tide of devastation. Only his friend Jeff can clear a way through the falling ash as Michael prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice to preserve all that he holds dear.

From the bloodbath of the foot-and-mouth crisis in 2001, to developers consuming land for real estate, And Then Come the Nightjars charts one farm's struggle to survive the march of history. Fierce with rage but also achingly tender with delicate heart-warming humour, the play is a story of enduring friendship and a requiem for rural England.

And Then Come The Nightjars represents Bristol Old Vic's commitment to the continued development of new writing and the theatre’s dedicated support of playwrights from the region, working with partners across the country to produce and tour new theatre work from the South West.

And Then Come The Nightjars is on at Bristol Old Vic Studio from October 6 to 17.