The Tilbourne Players are practising the principles of ancient Greek drama as they rehearse The Women of Lockerbie.

Greek dramatists developed a style and structure known as The Three Classical Unities to create an intense and moving experience, and the Players hope this production will have the same effect.

The unities are time, place and action, and the principles are that the play covers no more than 24 hours of events, there are no scene changes, no subplots and only a few main characters.

There is a chorus, who support, question and advise the protagonists while commenting and meditating philosophically on events. Their delivery is in the style of a radio narrator or BBC war correspondent.

The Greeks added singing, dancing and the playing of pipes and lyre to aid understanding and feeling, so The Women of Lockerbie will feature simple choral movement and live music performed by two members of The Leakin Lentils.

By the end it is hoped the audience will be calm, with a deep sense of resolution, understanding and hope. The Greek word for this is catharsis.

Greek tragedies were written and performed in threes over a day, finishing with a Satyr play which by all accounts was a bawdy drunken comedy!

The Women of Lockerbie is a single drama based on a true story. It will be directed by Ruth Ahmed and performed at The Tilford Institute from June 6 to 8 at 8pm. For tickets, priced £13, visit tilbourneplayers.org.uk

Kathy Le Fanu