HEDGEPIG Theatre are off to the pub – again. After last October’s Double Barrel blast of Charles Dickens’s The Signalman and Edgar Allan Poe’s The Black Cat for “Hallowe’en and dark nights”, York company co-founder Andy Curry has adapted and directed two short stories of mystery and darkness for free performances across York from tomorrow until March 30.

“We’re doing a Dickens again – Trial By Murder, in which a ghostly 13th juror manipulates his own trial – as quite frankly he’s fantastic and his work suits pub theatre so brilliantly,” says Andy.

“We’ve also decided to try something quite different, adapting Truman Capote’s story Master Misery, a dark tale of a mysterious, sinister doctor who buys people’s dreams.”

Hedgepig Theatre’s two casts – Andy Love and Bill Laughey for Dickens’s story of a wronged victim looking for justice; Gemma Sharp and Love again for Capote’s work – will take over a room to fill it with stories, adventures and imagination.

The audience will sit among the actors, drink in hand, being enveloped by the tales that unfold around them with the aid of fourth cast member Roxanna Klimaszewska (from Six Lips Theatre).

This entertainment for “those last few dark winter nights” will be performed at Thomas’s of York, Museum Street, tomorrow; The Tap & Spile, Monkgate, on Sunday; The Lamb & Lion, Bootham Bar, on Wednesday; and The Black Swan Inn, Peasholme Green, next Friday and Saturday.

“As it’s a free event, no tickets are needed,” says Andy. “Just show up at your pub of choice.

“Rooms will be open from 7.30pm for the 8pm start each night, and we strongly suggest you show up early as entry is first come, first served.”

The busier, the better, says company co-founder Gemma Sharp.

“Last time we found that the more cramped it was, the more the shows worked, as York pubs are so suited to this form of performance, because every little glance was right there in front of the audience.

“We like to involve them, so this time they can become the jury in the trial and patients in the waiting rooms – and it’s great for the actors to play with that.”

For more information, visit hedgepigtheatre.co.uk