THEATRE in its rawest form will come to The Hive in Worcester, as local writers try out their latest productions on a live audience, all thanks to the Jumpstart initiative.

Fans of live theatre can simply turn up, pay what they like, and offer their opinions.

And one of the playwrights hoping for an encouraging response is Worcester-based writer and performer, Amanda Bonnick.

Amanda, is no stranger to theatre, being the co-founder of the Melting Pot Theatre Company.

But "Daneshift" is her first full length play, and Jumpstart, which is run by the county's arts officer, Steve Wilson, will help to launch it.

Audiences will be treated to a section of the play, which is still a work in progress.

Other snippets of new plays by up-and-coming writers will be performed on the night, through the showcase initiative.

It will be an opportunity writers like Amanda to experience their work on the stage, and for immediate feedback, thanks to a question and answer session.

A spokesman for Jumpstart said: "Be the first to see new theatre from some of the region’s up and coming theatre makers before they go on tour – theatre in its rawest and most exciting form."

Amanda described Daneshift as a vision of a dystopian future.

She added: "It is set in the near future and the protagonist is a strong, determined and spirited young woman, battling against a repressive regime.

" I want to give a voice to an interesting female character who drives the action of the play: a female character who embodies and gives voice to the concerns and philosophical issues of her generation and a female character who has to pit her wits against others whilst retaining her integrity. It is a play about paranoia, trust and mistrust, love and betrayal."

Amanda has produced, acted in and occasionally directed, over 15 plays in the last decade or so. These include Macbeth, Othello, Midsummers Night Dream, Twelfth Night, The Tempest, A Winters Tale, Hamlet , Betrayal by Harold Pinter, Bloody Poetry by Howard Brenton, The Memory of Water by Shelagh Stephenson, Valued Friends by Stephen Jeffreys, The Herbal Bed by Peter Whelan, and a variety of other performances, including street theatre.

These productions have taken place at many different venues in Worcester and the West Midlands, including Worcester Arts Workshop, The Commandery Gardens, The Greyfriars Gardens, Hellens Gardens in Herefordshire, "and the back garden of the Dirty Duck in Stratford".

Amanda also performs her own poetry at a variety of spoken word events in Worcester and further afield, such as Worcester’s LitFest’s SpeakEasy and Poetic Licence at the Artrix, in Bromsgrove.

The opening section of Jumpstart and will be acted by young actors from the University of Worcester and directed by Dympna Jardine.

The date for the diary is Sunday March 12, from 7pm.

Further details at, http://www.visitworcestershire.org/thedms.aspx?dms=3&feature=1045&venue=1392730 and on 01905 822866.