A brand new online play about the Apollo 13 mission, written by Torben Betts, will receive its premiere later this year, marking its 50th anniversary.

From the creators of Birdsong, Apollo 13: The Dark Side of the Moon will star Jenna Augen (Episodes, The Night Watch), Tom Chambers (Father Brown, Casualty), Philip Franks (Heartbeat, Darling Buds of May), Christopher Harper (Holby City, Coronation Street), Willie Jonah (The Two Popes, The Iron Lady), Poppy Roe (A Serial Killer's Guide to Life, Royal Matchmaker) and Michael Salami (Hollyoaks, Just a Couple).

The play will be directed by Alastair Whatley and Charlotte Peters, with design by David Woodhead, sound by Dominic Bilkey and original music by Sophie Cotton.

Betts said, "I was delighted when Alastair asked me to write a new play about the ill-fated voyage of Apollo 13 which took place fifty years ago. I have long been a bit of a space nerd and like many last summer I was transfixed by all the various TV specials about the 1969 moon landings. Letting my imagination spend so much time floating around in space to write this has been a welcome relief from the situation on the ground at the moment and has also helped me put things in a little bit of perspective."

Apollo 13: The Dark Side of the Moon can be viewed from 8 October – 31 December on the Original Theatre website with tickets priced between £10-20.