IN A remote village in Eastern Europe, around 1900, the young Motl Mendl is entranced by the flickering silent images on his father's cinematograph. Bankrolled by Jacob, the ebullient local timber merchant, and inspired by Anna, the girl sent to help him make moving pictures of their village, he stumbles on a revolutionary way of story-telling.

Forty years on, Motl – now a famed American film director – looks back on his early life and confronts the cost of fulfilling his dreams.

How had a 22-year-old pretentious layabout made a discovery that would elude every other cinematic pioneer for years to come?

Nicholas Wright's new play promises to be a funny and fascinating tribute to the Eastern European immigrants who became major players in Hollywood's golden age.

The award-winning Antony Sher, whose previous work with the National Theatre includes Primo and Stanley, returns to play Jacob.

Travelling Light will be screened at the Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe on Thursday, February 9, 7pm. Tickets: £11 (full), £6 (young person). Box office: 01271 324242 or visit www. northdevontheatres.org.uk