THIS circular plywood auditorium which packs into the back of lorry has taken centre stage in Poole Park.

The innovative amphitheatre will host works by leading playwrights as part of the Roundabout Festival, which started yesterday and continues up until Sunday.

Run by the arts organisation Paines Plough, which commissions live theatre, the festival boasts several showings of three new plays throughout the weekend.

Paines Plough co-artistic director James Grieve said: “Roundabout is a completely self-contained, 168-seat auditorium.

“It flat packs into a single lorry and pops up in a day, requiring no tools or specialist skills to assemble.”

Yesterday’s opening play, called Growth, was a comedy about growing up from rising star Luke Norris. It will also be repeated on Saturday and Sunday.

Today, audiences will be treated to Alan Harris’ Love Lies and Taxidermy, the story of how the son of a Polish taxidermist meets the daughter of a failing ice cream salesman at a medical research facility in Merthyr Tydfil.

A spokesman for the performance, which is also repeated on Saturday and Sunday, commented: “First date in Tesco and things are going well, but it is difficult to fall in love when your parents need saving from themselves, their weird hobbies and the threat of a prison sentence.”

The third play, I Got Superpowers for My Birthday, takes place today and at the weekend.

Suitable for ages seven and upwards, I Got Superpowers for My Birthday comes from the pen of award-winning writer Katie Douglas, and tells the story of three heroes, Ethan, William and Fiona, and their epic quest to save the planet.

Explaining the unique stage system, Mr Grieve said: “The lighting and sound systems are bespoke designed and utilise completely new technology which is incredibly energy efficient. It is a dynamic, immersive space which wraps the audience around the action and creates a bear pit atmosphere.”

Paines Plough was formed in 1974 over a pint of Paines bitter in the Plough pub, and since then they’ve produced more than 130 new productions.

Visit lighthousepoole.co.uk or call 01202 280000 for tickets and information.