THE York company behind Beulah and Some Small Love Story returns in 2014 with a romping, stomping folk musical.

“The Flanagan Collective like stories and instruments and spending time with people, so we’ve made a new show, Babylon, which is about all of that,” says Alexander Wright, playwright and producer.

“It’s a story about kings and queens and revolutions, but it’s also a story about the things we should love and care for and keep special and safe. It’s a traditional folk tale for a future imagined. It’s about what could go wrong if we stick on a selfish, greedy path. It’s a big story about politics and people. But it’s told with food and drinks and instruments and singing and dancing.”

The Flanagan Collective will be heading out on a month-long tour from January 16 to February 15. “But it’s not a tour filled with glitzy theatres and swanky studios,” says Alexander. “It’s a tour visiting pubs, halls, farms and more pubs. It’s a tour aiming for knees-ups and shindigs, not a quiet G&T in the interval.

“The company of four composers and performers, Conrad Bird, Jim Harbourne, Serena Manteghi and Ed Wren, are as easily a band as they are actors, switching between harps, fiddles, trumpets, mandolins, harmoniums, bazoukis, drums, accordions, guitars, whistles and cajons to provide a heel stomping live folk soundtrack to the night.”

The Flanagan Collective’s last show, Beulah, was a delicate fairytale inspired by William Blake, but Babylon has a much fiercer edge. ‘For me, it’s very much about people,” says Alexander. “It’s about how we care for each other and, importantly, the things we care for. It’s political, but it’s social too – it’s about spending time together.”

Having grown up in rural Yorkshire – Coxwold to be precise – this is something Wright knows all too well. “I’m so happy we’re making work on our doorstep, and taking it to other people’s doorsteps,” he says, ahead of Babylon opening on home turf at The Fauconberg Arms pub in Coxwold on Thursday at 8pm.

For tickets, phone 01347 868214 or book online at fauconbergarms.com

After Coxwold, the tour will take in 8pm shows at The Royal Oak, Helmsley on January 18; The Carpenters Arms, Felixkirk, January 19; York Brewery, York, January 20; The Farmers Arms, Scorton, Richmond, January 31; The Gillygate, York, February 1; and The HUB, Leeds, February 2.

Full tour and booking details can be found at theflanagancollective.weebly.com