JOSEPH Fiennes plays the title role in Terence Rattigan’s Ross at Chichester Festival Theatre until June 25.

Arrogant, flippant, withdrawn and with a talent for self-concealment, Aircraftman Ross seems an odd recruit for the Royal Air Force. Behind the false name is an enigma, a man who started as a civilian in the Map Office in 1914. Despite never receiving an official commission, he went on to mastermind some of the most audacious military victories in the history of the British Army, including the 1916 Arab Revolt against the Turks. These victories earned him an enduring and romantic nom de guerre: Lawrence of Arabia.

Terence Rattigan’s 1960 play is an epic and probing drama which reveals the deeply conflicted Englishman behind the heroic legend.

Joseph Fiennes returns to Chichester to play T.E. Lawrence, following his appearance as Cyrano de Bergerac in 2009. His many films include Shakespeare in Love, Elizabeth, Enemy at the Gates and Luther; his theatre work also includes Love’s Labour’s Lost (National Theatre), and Troilus and Cressida, The Herbal Bed and As You Like It (RSC).

Director Adrian Noble who was brought up in Chichester is making his Festival debut. He was Artistic Director of the RSC 1990-2003; his recent productions include The Importance of Being Earnest and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the West End, and co-directing Kate Bush’s recent concert series Before the Dawn.

A series of special events have been arranged too. These include:

True Identity, Saturday June 18, 11am, Steven Pimlott Building

As explored in Ross, T.E. Lawrence hid under an assumed name and was disciplined for alleged misconduct but no-one seemed to be aware of his true identity. Assistant Director Alice Malin leads a 90-minute masterclass on the concept and complexities of the play’s framing device and of its epic scope of theme and setting. Tickets £5.

Theatre Day: Ross, Thursday June 16, 10.30am, Festival Theatre

Join the creative team and technical crew for a stimulating 90 minutes of insight, demonstration and discussion on the making of the production, prior to the matinee. Tickets £5 (plus optional performance ticket).

Post-Show Talk, Tuesday June 21

Stay after the performance to meet company members and discover more. Free.

Box Office 01243 781312

Online cft.org.uk