TOP playwright Peter Oswald is teaming up with students at Stourbridge’s Glasshouse Arts Centre to take an original powerful drama featuring masks and puppetry on the road around the UK.

Oswald, who was writer in residence at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London from 1996 to 2005, is working with the college’s students with learning disabilties to bring to life his drama ‘The Temple’ about brotherhood, love, jelousy and murder.

Inspired by the Temple legend by Rudolf Steiner - the darkly humorous play explores themes of power and vulnerability and centres on wise King Solomon who has a vision of a temple which could house God on earth, if only he could build it.

Being produced by the Glasshouse Arts Centre and Ruskin Mill Educational Trust, it will be brought to life through masks, puppetry, eurythmy and song by a cast and crew of 23, comprising students from the college (and its sister organisations - Ruskin Mill in Stroud and Freeman College in Sheffield), volunteers, trained staff members and eurythmysts from the West Midlands Eurythmy School.

The Glasshouse’s artistic director Mike Chase, who is directing the production, said: “This is amazing for Stourbridge - Peter Oswald, who was commissioned to write this piece for us, is like a modern day Shakespeare.

“It’s a wonderfully written play, it’s very rich to direct - and the students are really rising to the challenge.”

The play is being previewed at the Glasshouse, Wollaston Road, Amblecote, on Thursday May 14 at 7pm; and on Friday May 15 at 1.30pm and 7pm.

It will then head off on a mini UK tour, stopping off in Stroud in the Cotswolds, Sheffield, and London at the Rudolf Steiner House in Park Road on Friday June 19 at 7pm.

Tickets for the Stourbridge production cost £7 (concessions £5).

To book call the box office on 01384 399430 or go to website www.rmet.org.uk London tickets cost £10 (£8 concessions / groups over ten - £7 per person) - and can be booked on the same number.