THE regional premiere of Oscar nominee David Hare's 'state of the nation' trilogy takes place at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Friday.

Dating from 1993, the first of three separate plays about the county's institutions, Racing Demon, explores the Church of England in modern Britain.

It portrays the crises of faith and conscience of both those who work in it and those who reject its influence on their lives.

The trilogy continues on March 14 with The Absence of War, which tackles the Labour Party and takes a look at the questions of democracy, social justice and betrayal that dominate the political agenda.

Then on April 4, Murmuring Judges uses humour and insight in an in-depth analysis of the ideals and failures of the criminal justice system.

The plays will be performed by a single company of actors including Jack Shepherd, best known as TV's Wycliffe, Malcolm Storry, who has appeared in The Knock, Sarah Powell, Silent Witness, and Hugh Ross who is in the forthcoming BBC series Lenny Henry in Pieces.

The playwright's recent screen adaptation of The Hours, starring Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep won a Golden Globe Award and his previous credits include The Blue Room.

The plays will be performed over seven weeks, culminating in two Trilogy Saturdays when all three can be seen in one day.

For details of shows and tickets, which cost £8-£18.50, call 0121 236 4455.