AN actor and director from Salisbury who also works as a nursing assistant at Salisbury Hospital is staging a play about breast cancer.

Dan Avery, 34, plans to donate all money raised to a campaign to build a new breast cancer unit at the hospital after witnessing the challenges cancer patients face.

Tissue, a play by Louise Page, which has a gala opening at Salisbury Studio Theatre in Salisbury tonight and then runs until May 9, is in aid of the Stars Appeal Breast Cancer Campaign.

Dan has acted for more than ten years and has played leading roles both in the theatre and in film.

He has retrained and now works full-time as a nursing assistant to support his passion for the stage.

The play is about a young woman, Sally Bacon, who contracts breast cancer and is forced to have a mastectomy.

She has a scary road ahead of her. What sort of support will she get? How much will a mastectomy affect her and her life?

Exploring vital parts of her past and present, Tissue questions the effects of facing breast cancer and the possibilities of losing your femininity. Using multi media and immersive performances, the play takes you on Sally’s journey.

Dan has used most of his annual leave to rehearse and stage the play.

He said: “I wholeheartedly believe in what the Stars Appeal is doing and from my work in the hospital, know exactly how it can affect people and their loved ones.”

While this is a professional large-scale production, everyone involved – including five professional London actors – is doing it free of charge.

It was also made possible by an online crowdfunding campaign and sponsorship by Salisbury-based solicitors and accountants Moore Stephens.

Breast cancer may not seem like an obvious topic for entertainment but Dan explained: “I just want to put on a decent, professional show so that people can be entertained and also be enlightened about breast cancer.

“I want to show what it’s like to be a patient, be in hospital, and also what it’s like to be a clinical person working there and how it affects them too. I’m using all my nursing skills and experience.”

Dan has even loaned a real hospital bed from the ward where he works, which takes centre stage.

He is keen to point out that the play is not depressing.

He said: “There are moments when I find myself laughing at the realism of it and at the end she (the patient, Sally) discovers her strengths and herself.

“It’s not a drab play. I’ve told the actors to play the comedy; the spirit of just laughing when things are just bad. There will be moments when it’s dark but it will be a funny, energetic, stylised play with moments of emotion.

“The whole idea for the campaign is to build this unit for women – who don’t need to go through what our protagonist goes through.”

Tissue is at Studio Theatre, Ashley Road, Salisbury, at 7.30pm each night. Tickets cost £10 (£20 for tonight’sgala night, which includes a champagne reception and silent auction).

For tickets visit ticketsource.co.uk/tissue, or collect them from Moore Stephens on Salisbury Business Park.