STOCK car racing venue Smeatharpe Stadium in the Blackdown Hills is swapping high octane thrills for classic drama next month.

Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard will be performed by Miracle Theatre in a field next to the former Second World war airbase.

The Cherry Orchard is a bittersweet comedy about a once-wealthy family, whose idleness and extravagance have brought them to the brink of bankruptcy. Obstinate and self-absorbed, they are deaf to the rumblings of change which surrounds them, and unable to accept help when they need it. This new adaption for Miracle Theatre brings out all the humour and pathos of Chekhov’s masterpiece which, more than a century after it was written, is as popular as ever.

The event has been organised by Villages in Action, which brings professional art events to people in Devon. Crispin Rosevear, of Autospeed, which hosts races at the stadium, is a great supporter of Miracle Theatre.

Emma Gibson, from the company, said: “Miracle has been popping up and performing in unexpected and extraordinary spaces since 1979. We’re looking forward to our performance at Smeatharpe and are proud to be the first theatre company to perform at this venue.”

The performance is on Friday, June 22, at 7.30pm with gates open at 6.30pm. Early bird tickets purchased before June 1 are £10 adults, £8 students/children, £30 for a family of four; prices increase to £14, £10 and £38 thereafter (cash only on the night).

More information and ticket bookings are available from The Beehive, Honiton, on www.beehivehoniton.co.uk or 01404 384050. Play-goers should take seating – low-backed chairs, rugs and cushions, and can take a picnic.

Smeatharpe Stadium is sited on an old Second World War airstrip, used as a bomber airfield by the USA Air Force and then as a base for anti-submarine patrols by the US Navy.