By James Bolton, David Huntley, Poppy Kennedy & Karl Simmonds

TRAINEE journalists have joined forces with a touring theatre group to cover the opening night of World War One play Regeneration at the Darlington Civic Theatre. 

Based on North-East writer Pat Barker’s 1991 novel, Regeneration focuses on the treatment of returning soldiers suffering from shell shock.

It has been captivating audiences at Darlington Civic Theatre this week.

Theatre Cloud is an online hub celebrating the best of UK theatre and encourages young people to get involved in the arts.

As part of this, they invited students from Darlington College’s National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and BA Journalism courses to report on the four-day run of the play.

The trainees are creating a multimedia package of material, ranging from reviews of the performance, backstage interviews with the cast and crew and views from the audience.

The play has been adapted for the stage by Olivier award-winning playwright Nicholas Wright and produced by the Touring Consortium.

Its opening performance coincided with Armistice Day on Tuesday.

Among the guests on opening night were fundraisers from the Royal British Legion, who sold remembrance poppies to theatre-goers.

Associate producer Neale Birch said: “Regeneration offers a different look at the First World War, we didn’t wish to just get bogged down in the trenches.”

Set in Craiglockhart War Hospital, in Edinburgh, where influential Great War poets Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon were treated during 1917, the story portrays the relationship between the writers and how they developed each other’s literary work.

Mr Birch added: "The meeting of poets, Wilfred Own and Siegfried Sassoon, is one of the great moments in the history of English literature.”

The play’s opening night was well received by theatregoers.

Audience member Mary Crane said: “I’ve read the book and I was concerned how it would sieve down into a play but I’m delighted with how it’s been done.”

In addition to the play, the project also hosts educational workshops and a page to stage master class, exploring war poetry and the creative aspects of theatre production.

NCTJ trainee journalist Peter Mann said: “The opportunity to be involved in this exciting project has been great fun and will provide me with valuable and practical experience.”

Regeneration runs at Darlington Civic Theatre until Saturday.

Tickets can be purchased at the theatre box office, by calling 01325-486555 or online at darlingtoncivic.co.uk