AFTER a storming debut performance of their new play Cleansed, members of Rummage Theatre are performing it again next week as part of Weymouth’s Compass Festival.

The theatre company, made up of Hannah and Rhea Solsby and Lauren Whitehead, are part of Weymouth College’s Leap Local Emerging Artists Platform theatre project and are performing the play in the town before they take it up to Edinburgh Festival.

Cleansed is a harrowing tale about the infamous Magdalene Laundries that existed in Ireland until the late 1990s.

Elderly Sister Brigid, played by Hannah, sits in her retirement home with her helper Mary (Lauren).

Their relationship is not all it seems and as the play unfolds, unpleasant truths are uncovered and the past laid to rest.

Between the late 18th and 20th century, Magdalene Laundries were run by the Catholic Church and used as dumping grounds for wayward girls, fallen women and unmarried mothers.

Hannah said: “The story is about how women coped with these traumatic events and how it affected their future lives and those of their families.”

Rhea added: “The research was really shocking.

“A lot of questions remain unanswered. A lot of girls didn’t understand why they were in the laundries.”

Cleansed is at the Bay Theatre, Weymouth College as part of Compass Festival on August 16 at 7.30pm.

Call the box office on 01305 208702 for tickets and full details.

To contact Rummage Theatre to help with sponsorship for Edinburgh and beyond, email leap_theatre@weymouth.ac.uk or call 01305 764726.