A MURDER mystery opening on Monday, November 5, is the choice for the opening production in Newtown and District Amateur Dramatic Society’s new season.

There will be performances of Brian Darby’s “Gold Frankencense and Murder” each night at 7.45pm of the week through to Saturday, November 10, at the Powys Little Theatre in Canal Road.

Dave Morgan with Shirley Crowther are co-producing the play which is set in the sleepy village of Compton Gurney where nothing of any note has ever happened, but even the most picturesque of villages will have cupboards that will undoubtedly hide skeletons.

As a vicar’s wife, Grace has spent a lifetime on her best behaviour. Now, after the death of her husband Bardolph, she can enjoy the new-found freedom of being able to do and say exactly what she wants. But the return of her eccentric missionary sister, Ruth, together with some disturbing revelations, forces Grace to confront the truth of her marriage.

Author Brian Darby has contacted the company to thank for putting on his play. He was born in th same year that the com,pany was formed and he spent some time at Leighton near Welshpoo where he was evacuated during the Second World War.

He also told them that the church building at Leighton helped inspire the play although he emphasied that none of the characters are based on anyone real.

With the church, the priest, the well-meaning parishioners - and a bit of horror thrown in -, the play is just right for the Halloween and Christmas season.

Tickets are priced £8 , available in advance fro the Oriel Davuies Gallery, and a ne i nnovation at the theatre for play nights will be wine bar.

The second play of the season in February will be “Entertaining Angels”’ by Richard Everett, and two one-act plays are being looked on to end the season in Aoril, before the company move on to what will be their 50th season.

Ideas include a pantomime to get the adult and youth groups together, or a reprise of the first play of 50 years ago, or a pop-up theatre session in Newtown.

CAST members of “Gold Frankencense and Murder” opening at Newtown’s Powys Little Theatre on Monday, from left Gareth Owen, Brian Davies, Heather Hughes, Kara McMurdo, Dave Morgan and Jan Fursier.