A NEW play about the life of former England and Northamptonshire batsman Colin Milburn will begin its 2017 tour at Bolton School.

When The Eye Has Gone is a one man show produced by the Bolton School boys' division resident theatre company Roughhouse Theatre and was commissioned by The Professional Crickets' Association.

Throughout the 2016/17 academic year, Roughhouse Theatre will be the Boys’ Division’s theatre company in residence.

Milburn, whose brilliant career was cut short by the loss of the sight in his left eye in a car accident in May 1969, died in the North Briton Pub car park aged 48 after he drifted into chronic alcoholism.

The play follows the tragic decline of the former the batsman.

It is set in the set in the North Briton pub in Newton Aycliffe in County Durham on February 28, 1990, the last day of Milburn’s life during his cabaret performance as ‘Jolly Ollie’, the character he had developed to conceal his insecurities and suffering.

The play is by James Graham-Brown, the former Kent and Derbyshire all-rounder turned playwright, written under the penname Dougie Blaxland.

When The Eye Has Gone begins its second national tour at Bolton School, following an initial tour of all eighteen county cricket clubs in November 2016. All county clubs supported the PCA in putting on the play around the country to help current players appreciate the importance of planning for life after cricket.

Naomi Lord, the boys’ division Director of Drama, said:"We are delighted to host When The Eye Has Gone.

"The event presents an opportunity to celebrate our new creative partnership with Roughhouse Theatre, alumni cricketing success and the Drama department’s developing role in the School’s wider pastoral curriculum."

Boys in all year groups have already begin to work collaboratively with Roughhouse Theatre in full afternoon sessions, focusing on race, democracy and law, exploring theatre techniques and generating material.

The theatre company has also been commissioned to produce an original piece of drama based on Year Seven and Year Eight boys’ work towards their Arts Awards. The boys will audition for parts, work with Roughhouse Theatre and finally perform the piece based on their ideas and material in the summer term.

The performance will take place in the school's Arts Centre on Wednesday, March 1 at 7.30pm

Tickets are available to members of the public at a cost of £10.

A 2pm matinee performance will also take place on the same date for local and regional schools. This will be followed by a question and answer session with the creative team of When the Eye Has Gone.

Ticket order forms have been distributed to local cricket clubs, alternatively, tickets can be purchased over the phone from the School via card payment on 01204 840201.