The Fetch Theatre Company say the inspiration for this show is the increasing amount of drug abuse affecting rural areas like Herefordshire.

Their latest show, The Masque of the Red Death, aims to raise awareness of these problems and open up a debate within the communities we are touring to.

Created specifically for audiences aged 14 years and over, The Masque of The Red Death is loosely based on an Edgar Allan Poe short story and uses puppetry, mask and a unique style of visual theatre in a new and spine-tingling way.

Accompanied by a powerful contemporary soundtrack the production takes the audience into the streets of an imaginary market town that has been hit by drugs rather than a plague.

Each performance will be followed by a workshop led by a drugs awareness advisor accompanied by a member of the theatre company.

Audience numbers are limited to 35 per show and some performances are already sold out.

This project has been guided by various substance misuse teams in particular the Drug Action Team and Zig Zag in Hereford, South Shropshire Youth Forum in Shropshire.

The company admit that some people may find it hard to understand how puppet theatre can be of any use dealing with such sensitive and poignant material.

They say they hope the show will blow the misconception that puppetry is just for kids out of the water.