Timothy West stars in mysterious drama

Buy photos » Caroline Langrishe, Adrian Lukis, Timothy West and Carolyn Backhouse will take to the Cheltenham stage next month in The Handyman. (s)

ONE OF UK's favourite stage and television actors is to appear in a mysterious and cunning play in Cheltenham next month.

Timothy West, star of TV's Miss Marple, Bleak House, Lewis and Poirot, plays one of the leading roles in The Handyman which is being staged at the Everyman Theatre between Monday, September 17 and Saturday, September 22.

The story tells of Cressida and Julian Field who live comfortably in the Sussex countryside with their elderly Ukranian odd-job man and friend of the family, Romka.

In the house, Romka cooks, mends fences, trims hedges and grows vegetables with Cressida calling him her life-saver. But then suddenly things turn for the worse when two police officers from the War Crimes squad arrive at the house - what has Romka done? Is he guilty? And is there a limit on punishment?

The Handyman looks at questions surrounding culpability, retribution, universal responsibility and the possibility of evil in a story which captivates and intrigues from start to finish.

English actress Caroline Langrishe and former The Bill and Peak Practise star Adrian Lukis also take to the stage in this mysterious drama written by world-renowned playwright Ronald Harwood.

The week-long shows begin at 7.45pm with additional afternoon shows taking place on the Thursday (September 20) and Saturday (September 22) at 2pm.

Tickets cost from £10 plus a booking fee and are available by calling the Everyman Theatre Box Office on 01242 572573 or by visiting www.everymantheatre.org.uk.

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