RUDYARD Kipling was one of Britain’s most famous authors. During his life, Kipling wrote The Jungle Book, the popular Just So stories and arguably one of the nation’s favourite poems – If.

The author went to school in Southsea as a young boy, had a successful literary career, was the youngest winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature and led a remarkable life, spending time with his family in the United States, India and England.

This week, Titchfield Festival Theatre brings you an exciting new play – If only an audience with Rudyard Kipling – which tells his extraordinary life and the devastating personal consequences of World War One. The production also features many of his popular poems and stories.

In spite of his success as a writer, Kipling’s personal life was tainted with tragedy, resulting from the loss of his two children. Performed by Matt Jones and Lynn Pegler, the play explores the impact of World War One on the author and his American born wife Carrie.

If Only provides an excellent opportunity for the audience to discover more about this fascinating individual. The play will also include a reading of the poem If.

Performances are on Friday and Saturday evening. Visit titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com or call 01329 556156 for tickets.