AN actor who has played a multitude of parts on stage and screen is coming to Malvern Theatres to appear in a tense courtroom drama.

In Taking Sides, Julian Glover plays the composer Wilhelm Furtwangler who, after World War Two, is in court accused of conspiring with the Nazis.

American interrogator Major Steve Arnold is convinced the composer is guilty, while Furtwangler protests his innocence.

Mr Glover pressed for the play to be staged after seeing it and being stunned by its power.

It is written by Ronald Harwood, the writer of the Oscar-winning film The Pianist, and also stars Neil Pearson, last seen in Malvern in Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing.

"It's an absolutely riveting play," said Mr Glover, who explained that he was shaking with excitement after he first saw it in London eight years ago.

He said that although the play's subject was serious, it was accessible to the public and there were a lot of funny and even vulgar moments.

Taking Sides is based on a true story and Mr Glover said it did not matter if audience members knew the final verdict.

"It's not a question of whether he gets off, it's whether you think he should have done," he said.

"The verbal and intellectual battle is the great thing about the play."

Mr Glover's latest film is the epic Troy, starring Brad Pitt, in which he appears as Triopos, a Greek king.

He created the voice of Aragog the spider in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and was also in the second Star Wars film, The Empire Strikes Back, and the Bond film For Your Eyes Only, in which he played the villain Kristatos.

Mr Glover has acted on the Malvern stage before when he appeared in Phaedra with Diana Rigg four years ago. He said he may well visit again later this year in a production of George Bernard Shaw's Man and Superman.

"I love coming to Malvern because it's such an attractive place," he said.

Taking Sides runs from Monday, February 9 to Saturday, February 14. Tickets are £12 to £20, available from the Malvern Theatres box office on 01684 892277.