ACTORS are to depict the story of the Accrington Pals in a play to mark the heroes’ centenary.

Oswaldtwistle Players will mark the 100-year anniversary of the First World War as part of a festival next year.

Actors with the group, based at the Civic Theatre, are to perform The Accrington Pals by Peter Whelan, after the playwright praised a preview performance.

Clare Highton from the group said: “This play means a lot to the society as some of us have historical links to the play .and to the Pals themselves, many of whom were from Oswaldtwistle.

“In fact, the recruitment office for the Pals was at the Town Hall, Oswaldtwistle, is now the home of the Civic Theatre and The Arts Centre. The society performed the play some years ago at the Civic Theatre and also as a recorded radio drama for Radio Lancashire, so it seems right and fitting to revisit it.

“We were pleased recently to receive a message of support for next year’s production from the playwright, Peter Whelan, who was in the audience at The Civic Theatre last time and who praised a preview of the production.”

The Stoke-on-Trent- based playwright’s fictional piece about the Pals was written in 1982 and contrasts life at the front with the women left behind in Accrington.

The play will be performed at the Union Road theatre in October 2014.