Dorchester Amateur Dramatic Society faces the challenge of one of Alan Ayckbourn’s most critically acclaimed but difficult-to-stage plays.

The group will perform Man of the Moment from June 24-27 at the village hall in Queen Street, Dorchester-on-Thames.

The dark comedy centres on the character of Douglas Beechey (played by Mark Williams) – described by Ayckbourn as a “staggeringly unimpressive” character on first acquaintance – who, 17 years before the play begins, became a national hero by his courageous tackling of armed bank robber Vic Parks (Mike Davies).

Douglas had sprung into action to defend his colleagues, especially beautiful bank clerk Nerys Mills, the girl of his dreams, but in the struggle to disarm Vic the shotgun went off, causing Nerys to be seriously injured.

Years later, after completing his prison sentence, Vic has discovered a new talent – communication – and forges a successful career in broadcasting, with his own TV shows, radio appearances and a fan base of millions.

Now re-married and with two young children, Vic lives in a villa overlooking the Mediterranean with a gardener, maid, nanny and agent.

In contrast to Vic’s good fortune after “going straight”, Douglas is a forgotten hero whose bravery brought no tangible benefits and he lives in a small house beside a busy road. This apparently unjust role reversal attracts the attention of ambitious TV presenter Jill Rillington (Christine Jones). Jill, keen to make a reputation for herself, plans to reunite Douglas and the ex-villain in the hope of finding the former hero embittered by Vic’s enrichment.

Ayckbourn’s inspiration for the play was the celebrity enjoyed by Great Train Robbers Buster Edwards and Ronnie Biggs, which he felt was ironic, considering the fate of Jack Mills, the train driver, who was to die as a result of his injuries and was largely forgotten by the public.

Bearing in mind a swimming pool is central to the plot, this presents difficulties for those performing stage productions of Man of the Moment.

Geoff Russell, director of Dorchester Amateur Dramatic Society (DADS), says that over the years there had been many discussions about adapting the script for television or the cinema, where having a pool on the set would present little difficulty.

But he adds: “What would be hard to replicate on screen, however, is the role of the audience who, as the people in the studio itself – without perhaps realising it until the very end of the play – make an important, if not vital, contribution to the whole atmosphere of the production.”

Performances are 7.45pm each evening. Tickets are £8 for the show on Wednesday, June 24, and £10 for Thursday-Saturday, June 25-27, available from the Co-op, Hair and Lily’s in Dorchester, Clifton Hampden Post Office and Aisha Stores, Warborough, tickets@dads.org.uk or 01865 340792.