Not The Worst Place, a new play by Welsh writer Sam Burns, is being staged at Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold as a co-production with Sherman Cymru, Cardiff and the award-winning new writing theatre company Paines Plough.

It will receive its première in Mold from April 23-May 3 as part of the Celtic Festival 2014.

Seventeen-year-old Emma dreams of adventures beyond her Swansea home. Rhys, her idle boyfriend, has other plans for them.

Facing the consequences of their actions, under the disapproving eye of Emma’s mother, Dr Matthews, they must confront the difficult question of what it takes to leave the place that shaped everything they are.

A story about what happens when life gets in the way of your dreams, Sam Burns weaves together a touching, sensitive play that tackles our conflicting emotions about the place we call home.

In early 2009, Sam Burns was invited on to a five-week writing course at Sherman Cymru following the submission of an unsolicited play.

This led to the creation of a full length piece, Not The Worst Place, which was shortlisted for the Susan Smith Blackburn award in 2011.

Paines Plough is a nationally and internationally renowned touring theatre company, specialising exclusively in commissioning and producing new plays and helping playwrights develop their craft.

The company was founded in 1974 over a pint of Paines bitter in the Plough pub. Since then they have produced more than 100 new productions by world renowned playwrights.

George Perrin, joint artistic director of Paines Plough, directs a company of five.

A former associate director with Paines Plough and Watford Palace Theatre, his work includes Sea Wall by Simon Stephens at the National Theatre, Good With People by David Harrower at Traverse Theatre, London and 59E59 Theaters, New York and The 8th by Che Walker and singer-songwriter Paul Heaton (The Housemartins, The Beautiful South) at Latitude Festival, The Barbican, London and Manchester International Festival.

Kirsten Clark, playing Dr Matthews, returns to Mold for the first time since appearing in the Clwyd productions of The Rivals and All’s Well That Ends Well.

Scott Arthur plays Rhys. His theatre work includes recent productions of Twelfth Night and Masters Are You Mad in Chester.

Not The Worst Place is part of the Celtic Festival 2014, a celebration of new work from the Celtic nations, which continues until May 10 at Clwyd Theatr Cymru.

For booking details, call 0845 330 3565 or visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk.