A COMPELLING politically charged story about shattered friendships, class, social ceilings and the Labour Party’s battle for its soul is taking Bridport by storm on Saturday.

Poet Luke Wright’s first theatre show What I Learned From Johnny Bevan has received huge critical acclaim.

He is best known for his incisive and astute performance poetry and regular slots on BBC Radio – but it was Luke’s first theatre show that took the Edinburgh Fringe by storm and sold out for three weeks in London.

Luke received a Stage Award for Acting Excellence for his hurricane performance and the show received a Fringe First for the quality of the writing.

Luke said: “The show is told in flashback and verse and some prose. It’s funny, intense and quite sad too.”

At university, the whip-smart Johnny Bevan saves Nick, smashing his comfortable middle class bubble and firing him up about politics, music and literature.

It is now 20 years later and their youthful dreams have disintegrated alongside the social justice they hoped for.

Luke said:”Nick is now a journalist in his thirties and the performance explores the optimism of youth and class, and the failings of new Labour.”

Told in the words of Nick and Johnny, Luke delivers an impassioned performance of this moving and poignant story.

The razor sharp script written by Luke is infused with humour, humanity and wit and directed by Joe Murphy with a score by Ian Catskilkin.

Luke said he is looking forward to bringing the show to Dorset and getting out of the city.

He said: “I love it, it’s a beautiful county and no motorways! I try to spend as much time there as I can.”

n What I Learned From Johnny Bevan on Saturday, May 21, 8pm at Bridport Arts Centre.