AT 3.40pm on May 11 1985, a small fire broke out in the main stand at the Valley Parade football ground during the final match of the season. Within four minutes the wooden structure was ablaze. Fifty-four Bradford City supporters and two Lincoln City supporters lost their lives.

Lung Theatre, a young, award-winning Sheffield company, recall the events of one of Britain’s worst sporting disasters in the play The 56 at Selby Town Hall on Saturday in a piece of documentary theatre that uses three actors to retell the stories of those involved.

Adapted solely from testimonies and interviews with witnesses, the verbatim play ensure that survivors of the fire are given a voice as the themes of solidarity, strength and community in the face of overwhelming tragedy are explored.

Director and co-writer Matt Woodhead says: "Our hope with The 56 was to preserve the memories of survivors and witnesses of the Bradford City stadium disaster and introduce new and particularly younger audiences to this cornerstone in Yorkshire history. Using the words of real people, our aim was to create a piece that was dramatic in nature while preserving the integrity of people’s testimonies.

"One of the recurring themes that came up during the many interviews carried out was how, in times of adversity, the football club and local community came together. The 56 looks at the aftermath of the fire and how, over 30 years later, this community is still thriving.”

Chris Jones, Selby Town Council's arts officer, booked The 56 for Selby Town Hall after seeing the play in Edinburgh last summer. "I was quietly blown away by it," he says. "It’s an incredibly affecting, brilliantly performed piece of theatre, giving an unembellished account of one of the darkest days in Yorkshire’s recent history.

"It can be a hard watch at times, but this is really vital theatre, well deserving of all the many accolades it has received, and I’m really glad we've had the chance to put it on in Selby."

Tickets cost £12 on 01757 708449 or at selbytownhall.co.uk or £14 on the door.