Written by high society eccentric and Rottingdean resident Enid Bagnold in the Fifties, this drama follows the fortunes of Mrs St Maugham.

She cares for her troublesome granddaughter Laurel with the help of governess Miss Madrigal.

Known in the village as an eccentric who swanned down the High Street in a kaftan and bare feet, the writer's colourful yet controversial personality caused a stir among her neighbours.

She entertained the likes of Katherine Hepburn and Vita Sackville-West at her home at North End House.

She also became unpopular with many people when she used an ordinary village family as characters for her most famous novel, National Velvet.

The Chalk Garden was performed at the Theatre Royal back in 1956, with Peggy Ashcroft under direction from John Gielgud, and it has been claimed it owes much of its inspiration and influence to Bagnold's life in Rottingdean.

The action is set in a space identical to her own cluttered garden room and was written after the celebrated novelist employed a nanny.

Critics have claimed Bagnold brought different aspects of her complex nature together through the dry-hearted egotism of Mrs St Maugham and the green-fingered wisdom of Miss Madrigal - allowing them to be reconciled in the play's last scene.

After National Velvet, which was made into the famous film starring Elizabeth Taylor, The Chalk Garden is Bagnold's most successful work.

It was given a cinematic voice in the 1964 film starring Deborah Kerr and John and Hayley Mills.

This production was to have starred Maureen Lipman, who unfortunately had to pull out because her husband became ill after advertising material brochures were sent out to theatres.

The intriguing Miss Madrigal is instead to be played by Belinda Lang of Two Point Four Children fame.

She will be joined by a sparkling cast including Gerald Harper (Hadleigh) and Nicholas Grace (Brideshead Revisited.)

Tickets cost £13 to £23 and the show starts at 7.45pm with Thursday and Saturday matinee performances at 2.30pm.

Contact 01273 328488 for ticket details and further information.