There's nothing like going to a play in your own community — where neighbours can come together to enjoy a good evening out. And that’s what the good people of Dorchester experienced at the opening night of the new OTTC play River’s Up. They are the county’s premier touring company (soon to be renamed as Oxfordshire Theatre Company), travelling far and wide to bring several new productions every year. River’s Up is one of their best ever.

Written by Alex Jones, it tells of Sally and Tom, a middle-aged couple who live on the banks of the river Severn and are caught up in cataclysmic flooding. The sparring but affectionate couple are excellently played by Nicky Goldie and Richard Stone (pictured). The serious message of the piece is both counterbalanced and made more poignant by the humour and sparkiness of their relationship. In the second half they try to escape from the flooding in their dinghy unaware that their troubles are only just beginning. It’s a powerful evening of theatre and Karen Simpson directs with great assuredness, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats throughout. A must see show.

River’s Up will be touring to the following locations during March: Wood Green School, Witney (12), Chilton Village Hall (13), Kelmscott Village Hall (14), Cassington Village Hall (24), Islip Village Hall (25), Larkmead School, Abingdon (31). In April they will be heading to Steeple Aston Village Hall (1), Lain’s Barn, near Wantage (2), Ramsden Village Hall (3), Hanwell Village Hall (4), West Oxford Community Centre (7), Upton Village Hall (8), North Wall Arts Centre (9), Wolvercote Village Hall (21) and The Theatre, Chipping Norton (21 and 22).

For further details of the venues, you can visit the OTTC website at: http://www.ottc.org.uk/index.html