ENTER a world somewhere between Alice in Wonderland and Father Ted with outdoor theatre in Dorchester this summer.

Cornwall’s Miracle Theatre is bringing The Third Policeman to Maumbury Rings on July 13.

This surreal comic adventure features a world where the earth is not round but sausage-shaped; where eccentric policemen fall in love with bicycles and you can visit eternity via a rickety lift, in the heart of rural Ireland.

With its hilarious characters, streaks of dark humour and unforgettable plot twist, The Third Policeman earned its author, Flann O’Brien, a world-wide reputation as one of Ireland’s great comic geniuses.

Miracle’s actors have become experts in presenting plays out of doors: they know how to make the most of all the fascinating and unlikely venues where they perform, how to tell stories in the most entertaining and compelling way and how to draw the audience into an exhilarating shared experience.

On the face of it, a fast-moving hilarious thriller, peopled with unforgettable characters who would not be out of place in an episode of Father Ted.

But the story keeps veering off into an unsettling parallel universe where time has the habit of standing still, night is explained as an accretion of black air and people’s personalities merge with their bicycles as a result of the interchanging of atoms.

The production delights in O’Brien’s wonderful wit and luscious language and embraces barmy world with lots of physical comedy and cranky music.

The Third Policeman gives Miracle the perfect opportunity to show off its talents: packed with wit and wordplay, physical buffoonery, moody music and a story that grips you right up to the final extraordinary twist, all the ingredients for an intoxicating cocktail of farce and philosophy!

Miracle regulars will enjoy a cast of familiar faces with the return of Ben Dyson (Tin, Dr.Livingstone, Waiting for Godot) who will join members of last summer’s cast Ben Kernow, Catherine Lake and Hannah Stephens (as seen in Cinderella, Life’s a Dream and The Magnificent Three between them!).

Fans of this cult classic and newcomers alike should expect the unexpected!

*The Third Policeman, Maumbury Rings, Dorchester, Thursday July 13, 7.30pm. Call 01305 266926 for tickets or go to miracletheatre.co.uk

The production will also go to Springhead Gardens, Fontmell Magna, on Thursday July 3 at 7.30pm, call 01747 811853. It also goes to Higher Orchard, Sandford Orcas, near Sherborne on Friday July 4 at 7.30pm. Call 01963 220208 for tickets. It then goes to Kimmeridge Bay, Wareham, on Saturday, July 5 at 7.30pm. Call 01919 481323 for tickets.