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Jane L'epine Smith was born into the theatre - her father Eric worked in film and theatre all his life, and Jane followed in his footsteps.

Eric was a casting director for Warner Brothers before setting up the Central Casting theatrical agency in London, which worked with many big names including Errol Flynn, Rex Harrison, Petula Clark, Vera Lynn and Diana Dors.

With such a background, it was hardly surprising that Jane went down the same theatrical route. She was a casting director at London Weekend Television before opening her own theatre in the capital.

So when she moved to Devon in 2007, she was never likely to just leave the world of sets and props behind her.

Jane, who lives in Totnes, set up Searchlight to throw light on important social issues through the arts.

June Whitfield is a Searchlight Honorary Patron

Jane has linked up with South Devon playwright and author Allen Saddler to stage his work, Nothing Personal.

The one-act play about the elderly residents of a care home, which closes and is taken over by property developers, is the first of a series of planned projects.

An elderly lady in the home refuses to leave - with unexpected consequences.

A small cast of professional actors will be performing the play - which is directed by Josephine Larsen - at 10 venues in South Devon over six hectic days on 9-14 March 2009. After each performance there will be a discussion about the issues raised.

Jane says care issue affect us all at some stage: "I very much wanted to work with elderly people," she explains. "My mum has Alzheimer's, and I cared for my father-in-law for four years when he was ill.

"When I moved to Totnes I wanted to do something to help the plight of the elderly, and I came across Allen Saddler who has written Nothing Personal. It's a wonderful play and, without giving too much away, there is a satisfactory ending.

"I'm looking forward to hearing other people's stories in the discussions. This is a story about a beautiful building being ruined and turned into tiny flats to squeeze as many people in as possible.

Tim Goodwin - ex English Shakespeare Company

"And the people in the home are turfed out. I mean, what do people do when this happens? It's dreadful, and it makes you think 'would I be brave enough or strong enough to fight this if it happened to me'?"

Searchlight has the backing of some well known personalities - June Whitfield and Twiggy are Honorary Patrons.

"Twiggy is a friend of Allen's, and June Whitfield knew my father," said Jane. "It's marvelous to have their support.

"And we have got a very strong cast. Tim Goodwin, who lives in Dawlish, is ex-English Shakespeare Company. He plays the baddie, the property developer. And the role of Mary, the lady in the home, is played by Josephine Redmond, who recently appeared as Beatrix Potter in a TV programme.

"It's going to be a real challenge taking this to 10 venues over six days, from Dartmouth to Exeter, with all sorts of places in between. But the five actors are all very much behind the project, and it's the strength of the performance that is going to carry it."

Searchlight has received sponsorship from local backers and support from the charity, UnLtd: "They've been a great support. They really liked the idea of what we are doing.

"I'm enormously excited about it - it's going to be a real experience."

For more information about Searchlight and where to see Nothing Personal, visit the Searchlight website, which is linked from the top right of this page.