When Sam Butcher saw the space above the Three And Ten, he knew he’d found the location for his take on artist Philip Ridley’s 1991 play.

“What really drew me was the chimney breast at the back of the stage,” says 20-year-old Sam.

“It really feels like a room in a house, which is where this story takes place.”

The Pitchfork Disney will be Sam’s first production, and he is both directing and starring in the piece, alongside fellow former Sussex Downs College drama course graduate Ash Golder.

What attracted Sam to the play was its language.

“There’s not really much movement as such,” he says. “It’s more about the vocabulary and the mental image you get in your head.

It will be interesting to see how the audience take it.”

The play tells the story of Presley, played by Sam, and his sister Hayley who live alone in a fantasy post- apocalyptic world, fuelled by chocolate and sleeping pills. When Presley welcomes two strangers into the house – the ill showman Cosmo Disney and the mute Pitchfork Cavalier – their dream-like existence is torn apart.

As Presley talks to Cosmo, played by Ash, he reveals his darkest fear about a serial killer called The Pitchfork Disney.

Rehearsals for the play have been ongoing for the past two months, with the actors getting into the theatre space on Friday.

“At college we did quite a few shows, including The Tempest as our end of second year final piece,” says Sam. “Back then all we had to do was learn our lines. This is the first time we’ve had to think about getting the play right, finding a place to perform, organising rehearsal times and props, all the work that goes into it. Now that’s done all we have to do is concentrate on our acting.

“Our main reason for doing this play wasn’t to make money, it was mainly to do some performing again. If we cover what we’ve spent it will be a bonus.”

* 7.30pm, £6/£5, 07800 983290