A DIRECTOR and filmmaker from Kempshott is taking his new comedy-theatre production to this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Ben Mills, who is 25, is the director of A TED* Talk with Clay JW Crowne, (*not affiliated with TED.com, its members, fellows, organisers, partners, subsidiaries, sponsors or stockholders).

The former pupil of Richard Aldworth and QMC will take it to the city's Gilded Balloon venue with his colleague, the show’s writer and performer Nathan D'Arcy Roberts.

Nathan and Ben last worked together in Basingstoke to deliver the Young Playwrights Project at The Vyne School, which concluded in a showcase of short plays written by the participants and performed by professional actors at the Proteus Creation Space.

Ben will also direct Baggage, written by Lydia Thomson, at Proteus in June. 

A TED Talk… features a self-proclaimed visionary and personality as he attempts to deliver his version of the world-famous public speech events.

Ben, who recently worked as an assistant director at the Salisbury Playhouse, explained: “As a collaboration of young theatre-makers, the show is being produced on the funds we can put together.

“We're keen to find support from local businesses or organisations who could help us make the most of this exciting opportunity – possibly financially, or with assistance in our promotional efforts.”

Find out more online at plungertheatre.com.