The development of Dartmoor in the 18th century which, according to legend, included the last wolves to be killed in Britain, is being portrayed in a new drama this weekend.
The MED Theatre’s Wild Nights Young Company will perform their original play Wolf’s End on Saturday, December 2, at Moretonhampstead Parish Hall and on Sunday, December 3, at Southpark Community Centre in Buckfast.
Gillian Webster, company development officer at MED Theatre, said: ‘In the 1780s, at a time of great change on Dartmoor, roads and houses are built, moorland is enclosed and conifer forests replace the native scrub.
‘But how did the improvers' dreams of turning the moor into an agricultural prairie impact its wild inhabitants? And would the new roads really prepare the way for prosperity on Dartmoor?’
Wolf's End, a new drama by MED Theatre's Wild Nights Young Company, explores this period of development and integrates the legend of Kitty Jay in with those about the last wolves to be killed in Britain, rumoured to have been shot on Dartmoor at this time.
The performance will include a showing of the youth company’s latest short film The Last Wolf.
Gillian added: ‘The evening is truly a celebration of young local talent. The 13 to19-year-old participants of MED Theatre’s youth company have researched and scripted both the film and play, and composed their own music.’
Both the Wolf’s End play and The Last Wolf film are part of The Hound of the Baskervilles and the Last Wolf on Dartmoor project, which has been running since spring 2016, supported by a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund.
During this 18-month project MED Theatre’s young company has also produced a radio play Wolf Whispers with its youth company, and written and produced a community play The Howling, which was toured across Dartmoor villages in March this year.
The research has led the group to explore themes such as rewilding; an alleged 17th century vampire named Richard Cabell; legends based on the memory of wolves; and even a murderous controversy linked to the writing of The Hound of The Baskervilles.
Tickets for Wolf’s End can be booked via [email protected], 01647 441356 and www.medtheatre.co.uk, or bought on the door if available.