When Cowbridge Amateur Dramatics Society first made the difficult decision to postpone its production of Neville's Island, they were just weeks away from curtain-up.

The group had spent months of rehearsing, learning lines, and designing sets and costumes.

"We are hoping that we will be in a position to stage the play in the autumn," chairman Mike Chapman wrote, announcing the delay in March 2020.

Little did he, or anyone, know what the pandemic in store. Now, nearly 18 months later, the cast and crew are excited to finally perform for an audience.

"We missed last year, we really did," said Camilla Hopkins, who is directing Neville's Island.

"The last thing we got to perform was Season's Greetings in 2019.

"So it's wonderful to be back here and to have an audience again."

The play, written by Tim Firth, follows four out-of-condition, middle-aged businessmen sent off on a team-building exercise in the Lake District who succeed in being the first people ever to get shipwrecked on an island on Derwentwater.

Ade Emondson, who once starred in the play on the West End, described Neville's Island as Lord of the Flies meets The Office.

Over the two days stranded on the island, the worst parts of their personalities are exacerbated, bringing out their ugliest traits for all to see.

"It's a small cast, just having the four of us on stage," CADS chairman and cast member said Mike Chapman.

"All the parts are very equal though, only having one or two scenes each off-stage.

"Over the two hours on stage, that's actually quite intense."

Neville's Island is the 190th production by CADS, and in some ways the themes of isolation and anxiety parallel what we've all felt during Covid-19.

But what better way is there to appreciate community and a return to 'normal' by a night at the theatre, supporting local am-dram?

Watch Neville's Island on 22nd and 23rd October, and 28th, 29th, and 30th October.

Click here to buy tickets or ring 01446773167.