A Malvern actor and playwright is back in town with his first post-pandemic play.

Nick Wilkes, who for four years was writer in residence at Malvern Theatres, has been touring for the past 18 months.

A touring production of Blood Brothers saw him drive 20,000 miles to 55 different theatres across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

But after more than 500 performances, which were performed to in excess of 500,000 people, he is back in Malvern.

Malvern Gazette: Nick Wilkes with other cast members in Blood BrothersNick Wilkes with other cast members in Blood Brothers (Image: Jack Merriman)

“I’m exhausted, but post-pandemic I’m very grateful for the work,” said Wilkes.

“Covid hit the theatre industry particularly hard with many actors being forced into career changes, venues closing, and the artistic landscape of the country changing irrevocably.

“To have latterly been cast in such an enduring show, as popular with audiences as it ever was, has been a lifeline back to my career.”

Wilkes - the first writer in residence at Malvern Theatres since George Bernard Shaw in the 1930s - has written 31 plays to date.

Despite this prolific amount of work, the pandemic brought an abrupt halt to his work as a playwright.

“One of the consequences of such a relentless touring schedule on a big show like Blood Brothers, is that occasionally you do find yourself in some far-flung town with a few hours to kill,” he said.

“That sense of isolation, and the inspiration of being around working actors again led me to write down a few ideas that have finally led me back to my work as a writer.”

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A Quarter to Three is a late-night comedy set in the post-pandemic world, where an ex-frontline NHS worker now runs a pub.

With a new broom she has swept new life into the place and the locals don’t like it one bit, especially the late night binman who always calls for coffee on his way to work, at a quarter to three.

“Unlike a lot of new theatre this is a comedy with no agenda,” said Wilkes. “There is no political statement, no religion, it’s purely entertainment for an audience that I’m sure could do with a good chuckle.

“It’s also not playing anywhere else, this one is especially for the Malvern audience that I know and love”.

A Quarter To Three is at the Coach House Theatre, Malvern from Wednesday, May 3 to Saturday, May 6 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £17 and available from the Malvern Theatres Box Office, 01684 892277.