IT IS 1914, Britain is at war and the entertainment business is on its uppers.

A loss of appetite for frivolous pleasures and a dearth of young men finds actor-manager Lena Ashwell with a theatre but no audience.

A passionate advocate of ‘art for all’ and determined to do her bit, she assembles a motley cast and books a tour with a difference, taking her troupers to entertain the troops in France.

Specially commissioned by Mikron Theatre to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, Troupers brings to life a little-told story from the conflict.

The company, which tours the country in a canal narrowboat, is calling in at Eynsham for an outdoor performance at the Queen’s Head Inn, in Queen Street, at 7.30pm on Saturday.

There is no need to buy tickets. A collection will be taken after the perfromance.