The heart-warming and hilarious play about the village of Jaywick, Carry On Jaywick, heads to Forest Arts Centre on Wednesday March 21.

A couple of miles along the Essex coast from Clacton, Jaywick has the distinction of being the most deprived area of Britain. Originally a holiday resort, as the years passed by Jaywick went in to a downward spiral - the holiday chalets fell into disrepair, the risk of flooding increased and the area was neglected by local and national governments.

Carry on Jaywick follows the lives of a number of Jaywick’s residents, as they prepare for their talent show, try to generate positive change in their community, and reflect on the place they call home. It celebrates unity and the actions that individuals are taking to improve their hometown.

Made up entirely of the words of real people, Carry on Jaywick is a story of hope amongst the hopeless, laughter in the darkest times, and what it means to fight for where you’re from. The play travels through its village halls and dance classes, family rows and moments of inspiration, revealing a slice of English life which has largely been forgotten.

After two years of research, writer Dan Murphy has a sculpted the audio into a play, at once more moving and more humorous than you might expect. The finished piece is presented using the recorded delivery technique, to bring the subtleties of the original utterances to the stage. It’s not just interviews, but active scenes of community forums, line dancing evenings, and talent shows.

Helen Cundy, Director of New Milton’s Forest Arts Centre told us:

“Carry on Jack is an innovative and fascinating insight into an overlooked community that has fallen on hard times but lives to tell the tale. Join us for a heart-warming story with some laughs along the way.”

Carry on Jaywick is a Pay What You Decide performance. It allows you to pay what you can afford, rather than a fixed ticket price. Tickets are available to book as usual, but there is no obligation for you to pay until after you have seen the show. You then decide on a price you think is suitable based on your experience. All money collected will help us pay the artists who have performed, and the Forest Arts Centre hopes that you will give generously.

Tickets can be booked online at www.forest-arts.co.uk or via the venue’s Box Office by calling 01425 612393.