A new East Anglian adaptation of the classic thriller The War of the Worlds takes to the stage this week.

Eastern Daily Press: Saxlingham Players 2013 production of The War of the Worlds. Picture: Ross Jolliffe.Saxlingham Players 2013 production of The War of the Worlds. Picture: Ross Jolliffe. (Image: Copyright © Ross Jolliffe. This image is the property of Ross Jolliffe and is protected under UK and international copyright l)

In 1938 Orson Welles narrated a famous radio adaptation of the HG Wells science-fiction novel about aliens invading Earth that aired on CBS Radio in America and at the time led to the blurring of fact and fiction.

Now Saxlingham Players, in Saxlingham Nethergate, are presenting a new The War of the Worlds adaptation which looks at what it might have been like if Orson Welles had presented a revised version of his radio play in East Anglia in the second world war.

The show - which features about 19 people - was the idea of Jeff Price who has written the adaptation and is directing the show. Mr Price, who also plays the role of Orson Welles, said the Saxlingham Players show takes place in the studios of Radio East Anglia, with the actors playing radio personalities, and the audience playing the live studio audience of the day.

'The idea is that Radio East Anglia has brought over Orson Welles to lead them in a re-staging of the radio show,' said Mr Price, who moved to Saxlingham Nethergate from America about two years ago.

'We are also encouraging the audience to dress in clothes from the 1940s to really help people feel they are in a radio studio in the 1940s.'

• The show starts tonight and runs until Saturday. The show is at 7:30pm each night in Saxlingham Nethergate village hall. Tickets £7 for adults and £6 for concessions. To book call 01508 499631 between 9am and 9pm.