SUFFOLK creative agency Spring Design & Advertising has produced a powerful visual identity for a play that was banned by its own author more than 200 years ago and is enjoying its world premiere at Bury St Edmunds' Theatre Royal next month.

SUFFOLK creative agency Spring Design & Advertising has produced a powerful visual identity for a play that was banned by its own author more than 200 years ago and is enjoying its world premiere at Bury St Edmunds' Theatre Royal next month.

Written in 1792 by Regency playwright Elizabeth Inchbald - who was born in Stanningfield, near Bury, and made her name in London's Drury Lane - The Massacre is a provocative exploration of the French Revolution.

Besides being close to her birthplace, the Bury Theatre Royal is the last working Regency theatre in the UK, making the venue doubly appropriate.

Southwold-based Spring was awarded the contract following a three-way pitch against two creative agencies who specialise in the arts.

The work by Chris Waters (copywriter) and Rob Hines (designer) was selected for its innovative design, involving a blood-drenched letter M, and the depth of its research into the origins and content of The Massacre.

The theatre's artistic director, Colin Blumenau, said: “It's really exciting stuff and I'm delighted with the way things are moving. We love the work Spring has done on The Massacre.”