Monday, June 4 until Saturday, June 9, Theatre Royal Bath.

David Suchet stars in The Last Confession, an incisive new thriller that delves into the dark chambers of one of the most highly guarded institutions in the world.

With a cast of 16, this extraordinary play takes an explosive look behind the closed doors of the Vatican into a world where everything is confidential but nothing is secret.

In 1978, a little known Cardinal from Venice is elected to succeed Pope Paul VI. Known as the "smiling Pope", Pope John Paul I quickly shows himself to be the liberal that the reactionaries within the Catholic Church feared the most. Just 33 days later, he is dead. No official investigation is conducted, no autopsy is performed and the Vatican's press release about the cause of death is later found to be, in large part, false. Only Cardinal Benelli (Suchet) has the power to challenge the dead Pope's enemies.

As Cardinal Benelli delves into the dark secrets at the very heart of the Vatican he discovers that the Pope had warned three of the most hostile Cardinals that they would be replaced. His death marks the climax of 15 troubled years of controversy with the Church, schisms threaten its unity and the shadow of the Mafia hangs over its financial affairs. As questions about the Pope's death begin to surface, Cardinal Benelli is faced with a crisis of faith and conscience.

David Suchet leads a cast of 16 distinguished actors in The Last Confession. One of the country's most popular actors, he is perhaps best known for his definitive portrayal of Agatha Christie's Poirot. His numerous television credits also include, most recently, the role of Robert Maxwell in Maxwell, a one-off drama special for BBC2. The recipient of many awards, including Best Actor Awards for Blott on the Landscape and The Life of Freud on television; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Oleanna on stage; and films Red Monarch and Song for Europe on film. His recent theatre credits include Once in a Lifetime at the National Theatre and the UK tour of Man and Boy, which played Bath in October 2004.

Richard O'Callaghan plays the roles of Pope John Paul I and Cardinal Albino Luciani. His most recent appearance at the Theatre Royal Bath was in God Only Knows in September 2000. On television, his many credits range from Dalziel and Pascoe to Z Cars. His film work includes Butley, Galileo, and the voice of Dandelion in Watership Down.

Michael Jayston plays the role of The Confessor. His numerous stage credits range from The Wind in the Willows at the National Theatre to Racing Demon in Toronto.

The production also stars Michael Cronin appears as Cardinal Leo Suenens, Paul Foster as Anthony and Lorenzi; Maroussia Frank as Sister Vincenza; John Franklyn-Robbins as Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani; Charles Kay as Cardinal Pericle Felici; Bernard Lloyd as Cardinal Jean Villot; Joseph Long as Cardinal Aloisio Lorscheider; Roger May as Maguire/Priest; Christopher Mellows as Buzzonette/Thomas; Stuart Milligan as Bishop Paul Marcinkus; Joseph Mydell as Gantin; Bruce Purchase as Cardinal Sebastiano Baggio; and Clifford Rose as Pope Paul VI.

Box Office (01225) 448844.