The Sacred Flame in Oxford

Following the successes of Far from the Madding Crowd, Eden End and The Real Thing, English Touring Theatre returns to the Playhouse with The Sacred Flame; W. Somerset Maugham’s deftly written exploration of love, devotion and family, playing from Tuesday 2 to Saturday 6 October.

War hero Maurice Tabret returns home to his beautiful wife, Stella, and his loving family. But when tragedy strikes and foul play is raised, one question prevails; what lengths would you go to for love?

Part love story, part thriller, this fascinating and graceful play, by the enduringly popular playwright and novelist, is directed by Matthew Dunster whose previous credits include Mogadishu, which played to great acclaim at Oxford Playhouse earlier this year, as well as Love the Sinner for the National Theatre and Doctor Faustus for Shakespeare’s Globe.

W. Somerset Maugham’s many works include the celebrated plays The Circle, The Letter and The Constant Wife, the novels Of Human Bondage, and The Razor's Edge, and film adaptations including Rain and The Painted Veil.

The cast includes Sarah Churm as Nurse Wayland. As well as varied theatre credits, Sarah may also be recognisable from TV series At Home with the Braithwaites. The cast also includes Al Nedjari (Dr Harvester) who is best known for playing Samir Rachid in Coronation Street, and was also an actor-puppeteer in War Horse at the National Theatre and in the West End.

Tickets for The Sacred Flame at Oxford Playhouse are available from the Ticket Office on 01865 305305 or book online at http://www.oxfordplayhouse.com