AN outward bound course in the Lake District turns into a nightmare for four middle-aged businessmen in Tim Firth’s play, Neville’s Island.

Sent on the team-building exercise by their company, the out-of-condition middle management quartet succeed in becoming the first people to get shipwrecked on an island on Derwent Water — and what happens there on that foggy and freezing November weekend, none of them will ever forget.

Shrouded in fog, menaced by wildlife and cut off from the rest of the world, Old Gaol Theatre Company’s production of Firth’s comedy at the Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon, tells how the course turns into a carnival of recriminations, cricket and sausages!

What should have been a bonding process for Gordon, Angus, Roy and Neville turns into a muddy, bloody fight for survival because when night falls in the wilds, strange things start to happen.

The OGTC production from Wednesday to Saturday, July 20 to 23, marks an inaugural directing debut for Julie Kemp-Harper.

The duties of team leader for the Pennine Spring Water Company foursome falls to easy-going Neville, played by Geoff Munday, who tries to salvage the purpose of the trip as the situation grows ever more desperate. His attempts at rallying the troops are regularly criticised by the sneering sarcasm of loudmouth Gordon, played by Vern Dunkley, who fires a perpetual stream of putdowns and insults that only serve to create more stress and tension in an already difficult situation.

It’s hardly an ideal situation for their colleague Roy, played by David Fardon. An enthusiastic birdwatcher, he’s a man who has only just returned to work following a breakdown.

However, the fourth member of the group, Angus, played by Andy Pearl, might just have something that could help them all.

The performances start each evening at 8pm and tickets, at £7 and £6.50concessions for the Wednesday and Thursday, and £8 and £7.50 concessions for the Friday and Saturday, are available from the website: www.wegottickets.co.uk, Patisserie Pascal in East St Helen Street, Abingdon, or by calling 07849 243633.