TERRENCE Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea will be the latest production for The Village Players in Nayland.

A huge success at The National last year with Helen McCrory and also a smash hit film with Rachel Weisz and Tom Hiddleston, it's the story of the wife of a judge who engages in an affair with a former RAF pilot.

The Deep Blue Sea was written by Rattigan in 1952 and was based in part on the playwright's secret relationship with Kenny Morgan who later committed suicide.

Considered by many to be Rattigan's finest work and written at the height of his fame, this production is being directed by Christine Kettle, the first time she has worked with the Village Players.

She says: "After being blown away by the production at The National Theatre, I am delighted to have been given the opportunity by The Village Players to direct this play.

"It is so moving, written with empathy, truthfulness and sensitivity in its depiction of passion, female sensuality and distilled sadness. Although it's very much a period piece set in Fifties repression, its subject matter is universal in any period."

As well as Christine, the show marks a debut Nayland performance by Susanne Harknett, who plays Hester Collyer, and Mark Russell, who despite being in the troupe's pantomime is making his first 'serious' role as Freddie Page.

With Jim Bond, Emma Wallis, Justin Dowding and Sharon Pentney, among others, in the cast, The Deep Blue Sea runs at Nayland Village Hall from March 23 and 25 at 8pm. Tickets are £7.50, £6 for under 16s, available on-line at www.villageplayers.co.uk