Olivier Award-winning ‘Our Country’s Good’ is currently on tour and, following an autumn season in Toronto, is coming to Richmond Theatre in November.

Based on Schindler’s List writer Thomas Keneally’s novel The Playmaker, this classic story depicts a group of Royal Marines and convicts who put on a comedy production in order to "redeem" the prisoners.

Over the course of the play, the impact of theatre is explored through the changing relationships of captors and captives.

This is echoed stylistically with Our Country’s Good creatively using 10 actors for 22 parts, doubling up roles so that one actor could play both an officer and a prisoner to interesting effect.

Inspired by true events , the play premièred 25 years ago before showing at the West End and Broadway, winning awards both sides of the Atlantic.

Max Stafford-Clark, the original director of the piece, has taken up the helm once again of what he describes as ‘a classic rolls Royce of a play’.

"The play is a celebration of the power of theatre," the acclaimed director said. "Theatre forms the jigsaw pieces of history."

He stated that that nothing was radically different from the performance 25 years ago, and the modern themes within the play ensure it is still relevant for audiences.

Stafford-Clark said: "Reflecting Our Country’s Good now being featured on the A-level syllabus we wanted to bring the text to life for students."

In light of this, Stafford-Clark’s international theatre company, Out of Joint, is running an educational scheme which raises money to run workshops for school children.

There are also discounted tickets available for school groups who wish to attend.

Performances run from November 4 to 8 and tickets are available from the box office on 0844 8717651 or online at atgtickets.com/richmond.

  • Our Country’s Good; Richmond Theatre; November 4 to 8; tickets £10-£37.50; book online at atgtickets.com/richmond.