ALAN Bennett's hit comedy Single Spies is to tour the UK in 2016, making two South Coast stops.

Olivier Award-nominated Rachel Kavanaugh will direct Nicholas Farrell of The Iron Lady fame as Guy Burgess, 2 Point 4 children star Belinda Lang (Coral Browne and Her Majesty the Queen) and Downton Abbey's David Robb (Anthony Blunt) in an extensive UK tour opening next month.

Bennett’s award-winning espionage double bill is a pointedly satirical snapshot of two members of the infamous ‘Cambridge Five’, Guy Burgess and Anthony Blunt, both recruited as spies by the Soviet Union during World War II.

In 1950s Moscow, Coral Browne receives an invitation to lunch with shunned Soviet spy, Guy Burgess, with the sole instruction to ‘bring a tape measure’. An Englishman Abroad is a wry and touching play which chronicles the pair’s fleeting friendship and Burgess’ attempts to cling to his way of life as a Soviet citizen.

A Question of Attribution gives us a glimpse into Anthony Blunt’s life of espionage within the very walls of Buckingham Palace. Following his double-life as an art historian to royalty and a Soviet spy, this witty tale of forgery and deceit culminates in a sharp and candid interrogation from Her Majesty the Queen herself.

Single Spies premiered at the National Theatre in 1988, opening to critical acclaim and receiving an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 1990.

Nicholas Farrell’s extensive film career includes The Iron Lady, Legend and Chariots of Fire.

Belinda Lang is best known for playing Bill Porter in hit TV show 2 Point 4 Children.

David Robb stars as Dr. Clarkson in the multi-award winning drama Downton Abbey.

Rachel Kavanaugh has directed multiple celebrated productions at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre including The Sound of Music, Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It. For Chichester Festival Theatre, Kavanaugh’s Love Story was Olivier Award-nominated for Best New Musical and received a West End transfer.

Singles Spies opens at Chichester Festival Theatre from February 4 to 13 and shows at Salisbury Playhouse from April 18 to 23.

Tickets: 01243 781312 or cft.org.uk (Chichester) and 01722 320 117 or salisburyplayhouse.com (Salisbury).