Some of the island’s stage actors have used their time at home to create their own ’lockdown theatre’ group.

The group, consisting of several Manx actors and theatre aficionados have joined up with friends in the UK to put on their own performances, held over Zoom online meetings.

The lockdown theatre was the brainchild of local singer, actor and music tutor Mandy Griffin, who said she decided to look for other ways of filling in her spare time once all her singing and theatrical activities were cancelled for the foreseeable future.

’It is something I have always thought would be good fun, to sit down with some friends and read through a script with a bottle of wine to hand,’ said Mandy.

’When all this happened, I thought it would be a good time to give it a try, and many of my friends thought it was a good idea too.’

So far the lockdown theatre ’cast’ have attempted two Shakespeare plays, King Lear and Twelfth Night, as they were the most easily available scripts to find, and are in the midst of planning their next play.

’We create costumes out of what we find just lying around the house and have an enjoyable time together.

’This is really only for friends at the moment.

’It’s all for the sake of having fun and there is no need to prepare too much or learn lines.

’I asked around and a lot of people said they’d give it a go.

’David Dawson took part in the first one and Zoe Cannell also gets involved.

’I also got in touch with some friends in England, and we have had people from Edinburgh, Durham, a director who is based in London and two people who run an arts venue in Bath all taking part.

’However, I have had so much interest from other people who want to get involved and have a go at the next one that I might have to start holding auditions in the future!’