HITCHCOCK’S tale of espionage The 39 Steps will be playfully brought to the stage as a comic spoof by Black RAT Productions for their autumn tour.

They will perform the show at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff from Thursday, November 5 to Saturday, November 7.

The 39 Steps (Hitchcock’s famous first thriller) follows the incredible adventures of a dashing hero, Richard Hannay (Gareth John Bale), complete with stiff-upper-lip, British gung-ho complete with pencil moustache as he encounters dastardly murders, double-crossing secret agents, and of course, devastatingly beautiful women.

Fast-paced, gripping and full of adventure, this hilarious whodunnit will feature four talented actors, 139 characters and 39 steps all in 100 minutes.

The hit West End production of The 39 Steps will close in September, following a nine-year run. Black RAT’s tour of Wales offers the chance to see an original version of the Olivier Award winning action-packed comic thriller joyously created with the usual Black RAT high energy and gusto to offer ‘a spiffingly good’ night at the theatre.

The 39 Steps is a Black RAT Productions and Blackwood Miners’ Institute co-production in association with RCT Theatres and supported by Arts Council Wales and will be directed by Richard Tunley.

Joining the cast will be Joanna Simpkins (woman), Robert Hopkins (clown) and Sam Davies (clown) who returns to Black RAT after success in the company’s production of John Godber’s Bouncers in their 2010 autumn tour. The production is designed by Anna-Marie Hainsworth with lighting design by Robin Bainbridge, sound design by James Marsh and is adapted by Patrick Barlow.

Further information is available at blackratproductions.co.uk.

For more information about tickets please contact the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama on 02920 391391.