Spring Design & Advertising has created a visual identity for the world premiere of an infamous play that was banned by its own author more than two hundred years ago.

The Massacre, written by Regency playwright Elizabeth Inchbald in 1792, will have its professional world premiere at Bury St Edmunds' Theatre Royal, the last working Regency Theatre in the UK, next month.

Suffolk-based Spring was appointed to create its visual identity following a three-way pitch.

The creative approach focuses on the violent context of the play, which explores the French Revolution, using an attention-grabbing letter 'M' drenched in blood and rusted.

Although written in the 18th century, Spring says the play has a strong resonance with current political situations across the globe. It has, therefore, used a classic font to reflect the traditional origins of the play but with the text and 'M' image set against a black background to update the typography for a modern audience.