Actor finishes Darke's final play

Nick Darke's final work has been described as hilarious

Cornish actor Carl Grose has completed a play that was left unfinished when local playwright Nick Darke died earlier this year.

Laughing Gas is a comedy which charts the rise of one of Cornwall's most famous sons, Sir Humphry Davy.

It was originally commissioned for the National Theatre and will have its world premiere at the Drum Theatre in Plymouth later this month.

The play has been described as hallucinogenic and hilarious.

Nick Darke died of cancer in June at the age of 56.

His friend and colleague on the project, Carl Grose took over the writing duties with support from Nick's wife Jane.

Davy lamp

It follows Sir Humphry as he prepared for his most testing challenge, the delivery of a lecture which could change science forever.

Sir Humphry was born in Penzance in 1778 and became the leading scientist of his day.

He discovered the powers of nitrous oxide - or laughing gas - but will probably be best remembered for inventing the Davy lamp which warned miners when dangerous gases were present.