Close friends Adam Romain and Sophie Reindorp love the theatre so much that they have set up their own production company, Magic Hat Productions. Based at the Harrow Arts Centre in Middlesex, the 40-strong group is practising for their forthcoming production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible.

Miss Reindorp, 20, a second-year criminology student at Southampton University, met Mr Romain while they were working on a production of The Wizard of Oz for theatre company, Acorn Players. The duo decided they wanted to be in control of their own productions.

Mr Romain, 21, tells People: "I've always wanted to go into theatre production. To put on your own show is huge struggle and a big thing to do at such a young age. You think it can't be done. However, by working together, Sophie and I realised that it wasn't impossible and that we could do it." But it has not been easy. "From day one when we were casting actors, we were running around like mad, trying to source male actors that we desperately needed to fill certain parts."

Miss Reindorp adds: "We wanted our first-ever play to be strong, dramatic and hard-hitting. We wanted to make an impact, and the high-tension plot of The Crucible fits the bill perfectly."

The Crucible will be staged at Winston Churchill Hall in Ruislip from September 9 to 12 (tickets: 07769 560991)