AWARD-winning director, Howard Davies, stages Chichester’s new production of For Services Rendered, which opens tonight with a distinguished cast.

This 1932 drama is considered to be one of W. Somerset Maugham’s greatest plays.

It depicts a world where both men and women are struggling to adjust to life in the aftermath of the First World War.

Former soldiers face debt, redundancy and depression, while the choices available to women are equally limited.

Somerset Maugham was a distinguished novelist and short story writer as well as playwright, whose work includes Of Human Bondage, The Moon and Sixpence, and Cakes and Ale.

David Annen plays Dr Prentice. His credits include the Young Vic production of Ah! Wilderness, as well as The Master and Margarita and A Disappearing Number (both for Complicite).

Anthony Calf plays Wilfred. His Chichester credits include Private Lives (and West End), The Deep Blue Sea and Wallenstein. Other credits include The Hard Problem, The White Guard and Gethsemane (all for the National Theatre).

The cast also includes Sam Callis, Simon Chandler, Nick Fletcher, Stella Gonet, Jo Herbert, Yolanda Kettle, Justine Mitchell and Matilda Ziegler.

Director Howard Davies’s numerous credits include award-winning productions of The White Guard, Mourning Becomes Electra and All My Sons (all for the National Theatre), The Iceman Cometh (Almeida Theatre and West End), and the original RSC production of Piaf (also West End and Broadway).

  • For Services Rendered is at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester until September 5. Tickets: 01243 781312 or cft.org.uk