The English Touring Theatre bring the W Somerset Maugham’s taut elegant drama The Sacred Flame to the Rose this month.

With an endorsement from Sir Ian McKellen, this drama tells the tale of Maurice Tabret, played by Jamie de Courcey of Downton Abbey, a disabled war hero who dies from an overdose.

The doctor rules suicide but when it is revealed his beautiful wife Stella, played by Beatriz Romilly, has been having an affair with his brother Colin, suspicious fingers are pointed by the soldier’s devoted nurse.

Director Matthew Dunster’s credits range from a reimagining of Alan Sillitoe’s seminal 1958 novel Saturday Night and Sunday Morning to Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales.

The team behind the scenes include Anna Fleischle on design, Lee Curran on lighting and sound by Emma Laxton.

The Sacred Flame, Rose Theatre, September 13 to 22. For tickets and prices visit rosetheatrekingston.org or call 08444 821556.