AN all female version of Lord of the Flies, an award-winning portable in-the-round auditorium and a play bringing the stories of women prisoners to the stage are among the highlights of the new season at Mold's Theatr Clwyd.

Buoyed by the recent sell-out success of an adventurous version of The Great Gatsby staged in a disused pub, the award-winning theatre and its artistic director Tamara Harvey will once again challenge their audience with a varied and original selection of drama as well as the usual mix of dance, cinema, comedy and family-fun.

"We thought it was a really exciting proposition but we didn't know if people would go for it," said Tamara, reflecting on the popularity of The Great Gatsby, which has seen crowds flocking to Mold's old Dolphin Pub.

"Theatr Clwyd has never done anything like it before but it's just been a massive hit and not only have people come and loved it but much to our delight they have dressed up too.

"Every night down on Mold High Street they're all heading to the play in their 1920s finery and it feels like a real party."

Speaking at the launch of the theatre's new season and the inaugural event for its new membership scheme, Tamara said it was "fantastic" that so many people had signed up.

"It's another indication for us about how much people love this place and have loved it for years and want to be part of it," she said.

"It's not just about getting money off tickets, but also about giving people an opportunity to come to unique events and rehearsals and getting that behind the scenes glimpse of the theatre."

After last year's success, June will see the return of 'Roundabout', Paines Plough’s award-winning portable in-the-round auditorium with a programme including world premieres How To Spot An Alien, Sticks and Stones and Island Town.

In September, William Golding's classic story of a dystopian future ruled by schoolboys comes to Mold with the twist that this production of Lord of the Flies will feature a female only cast.

"Most people know the story but we'll be telling it in a slightly different way," said Tamara.

"It's important that we create opportunities for female actors on stage and it also felt important to look at an established piece from a different angle and this is away of doing that."

Another homegrown production is Thick as Thieves, a new play from Wales Drama Award-winning playwright Katherine Chandler and co-produced by Theatr Clwyd and acclaimed women’s theatre company Clean Break which uses theatre for personal and political change, working with women whose lives have been affected by the criminal justice system.

"Clean Break are a company who I have admired for years," said Tamara. "They do work who no else is doing and tell these stories about women prisoners that would otherwise go unheard.

"The chance to work with them was not one we could walk away from and I think it will be something audiences here have not seen before."

By November the rock ‘n’ roll panto will be back in Mold with disco frocks, sparkling sets, slapstick galore and the colourful panto puppets helping to tell the story of Dick Whittington with other touring highlights including John Buchan's classic The 39 Steps and Duet for One, based on the life of cellist Jacqueline du Pré.

The event, held at Theatr Clwyd on Friday, also saw the introduction of a number of new admission prices designed to encourage more people to visit the theatre.

"We want people to share in that experience of live theatre without breaking the bank," added Tamara, who recently became a mum for the second time.

"I understand more now than I ever did about finding a baby sitter, finding time when you're free, finding the money for the ticket and having a drink in the bar.

"I think it's vital that loads of us who run theatre break down the barriers for those who want to come through our doors."

For more information go to: www.theatrclwyd.com