Chickenshed, a theatre company that prides itself on being all-inclusive, has a new play showing at The Studio Theatre in Southgate from next Wednesday.

The People’s Happiness, written by long-term Chickenshed member Peter Dowse, is a drama that focuses on the the life of the young Josef Stalin, and considers how circumstance can mould individuals into powerful figures.

Peter tells me: “I've been visiting Russia on and off for the past five years. In fact, we’ve recently set up a satellite group there for Chickenshed. That’s really what got me interested in Russian history and was the inspiration for this play.”

Stalin, the son of a cobbler, fought his way out of the gutter. What followed was his rise to power and one of the most bloody episodes in history, all of which is dramatised in this original ensemble.

With a relatively small cast of eight, many of the actors play multiple parts, including Peter who is both Stalin’s father, Lenin and a priest.

Enthusiastic writer Peter says: “The People’s Happiness is a populist take on a story that happened 100 years ago and it still resonates today. You don’t need to know anything about him to enjoy the performance. It’s just a genuinely good adventure story.”

The People’s Happiness is at The Studio Theatre at Chickenshed, Chase Side, Southgate, from Wednesday, April 22 to Saturday, April 25, 7.30pm. Saturday, 8pm, matinees: Friday, 2pm and Saturday, 5pm, signed performance Friday, 7.30pm. Tickets: 020 8292 9222. Text phone users dial 18001 020 8292 9222 (Typetalk), email: Bookings@Chickenshed.org.uk (£7, concs £5. Suitable for 13 years plus.)