A new community production, which is giving young local actors the chance to work alongside professionals, is to be performed on the stage at Mansfield Palace Theatre and Nottingham Playhouse.

The Trials is a Dawn King play about the gathering pace of environmental change, and a generation being held to account for it.

In a future where the air has become unbreathable, three adult defendants fight to clear their names.

Called to account as the generation responsible for the environmental crisis that’s unfolding, they are being judged by a jury of 12 teenagers — those paying the price for the actions of their elders. With their own futures hanging in the balance, are they seeking justice or revenge?

Twelve young local actors, aged from 13 to 19, will play the jury, while three professional actors will play the defendants.

The young cast are: Jamie Adlam, Noah Baguley, Nevaya Davidson, Abi Dring, Luca Gale-Hall, Joseph Grainge, Thomas Pears, Jessica Pywell, Finley Ramowski, Chloe Revill, Marley Simpson and Bernice Thomas. The professional actors include Mark Jardine and Rebecca Crankshaw.

The community cast of young performers from Nottingham and Mansfield was selected through open workshops.

Rehearsals have already begun, with local actors exploring their characters and discussing responses to climate change. It’s an opportunity for them to work alongside professional actors and perform on the main stage at the Playhouse and Palace Theatre.

Co-directors Omar Khan and Hannah Stone, who both began their careers as Youth Theatre tutors at the Palace Theatre, said: “We have managed to put together such an incredible cast of local talent for this production.

“The young people involved have approached rehearsals with an insightful wisdom beyond their years, and we are excited to see what they go on to do after their experience on The Trials.”

The production is one of the Palace’s National Portfolio Organisation projects to encourage creative conversations around climate justice and youth voice.

It will be on stage in Mansfield on 17th August and at Nottingham Playhouse, from 14th to 16th August.

The Trials will be produced to Theatre Green Book sustainable standards, including that 50% of materials should have had a previous life and 65% of materials should be reused or recycled afterwards.

To buy tickets for The Trials at Mansfield Palace Theatre go to www.mansfield.gov.uk/palacetheatre/events or contact the Box Office, either at the theatre in person or on 01623 463133.