ROUNDABOUT, Paines Plough’s unique pop-up theatre tent, returns to Dorset as part of Bournemouth’s Arts by the Sea Festival this month.

Building on their reputation for championing new plays from talented up-and-coming writers, Paines Plough have programmed another first-class trio of world premiere plays.

All three will be performed by an ensemble of shapeshifting actors, Charlotte O’Leary, Katherine Pearce and Jack Wilkinson.

Artistic directors of Paines Pough James Grieve and George Perrin said: “Once again we’re producing three world premieres in rep; Island Town is a bittersweet story about friendship, hope and dreams of an escape from George Devine Award Winner Simon Longman. Sticks and Stones is an incisive satire on the modern condition from BAFTA nominated Vinay Patel. Georgia Christou’s How To Spot An Alien a rip-roaring space odyssey for adventurous young people and older stargazers. Georgia, Simon and Vinay are amongst the most distinctive, observant and entertaining new voices in British theatre and we are thrilled to showcase their work across the UK in our beautiful pop-up Roundabout.”

In addition to the three Roundabout plays, there will also be top stand-up from Coastal Comedy headlined by Angelas Barnes, a Comedy Club 4 Kids, the return of John Foster’s hard-hitting play Ride! and Life and Death in an Ocean Full of Hope, a new piece written by Andrew Muir and performed by Bournemouth & Poole College.

Roundabout festival runs from September 27-30, on the Pavilion Dance South West Terrace in the Lower Gardens. For all tickets, visit lighthousepoole.co.uk