UNTIL MAY 1, BATH: FOLLOWING critical acclaim at the Hampstead Theatre, My Boy Jack appears at the Theatre Royal Bath next week, starring Belinda Lang and David Haig.

Written by David Haig, this compelling new play visits Bath as part of a nationwide tour.

My Boy Jack is a moving account of the life of Rudyard Kipling, whose legendary storytelling continues to delight millions today.

The year is 1913 and Britain is on the brink of war with Germany. The play follows the famous poet's dogged determination to send his young teenage son to the trenches, triggering a bitter family conflict. It also leaves the patriotic poet torn by his two great passions: his love for children, particularly his own, and his devotion to king and country.

"Rather than a story of Kipling's life the play is based on the dilemma he is faced with, as the empire beckons," said Belinda Lang, who plays the role of Caroline Kipling, Rudyard's wife.

"It was a dilemma that had a big effect and changed families. The play polarises that dilemma neatly because it is based on a true story."

One of England's most prolific writers, Kipling was born in Bombay in 1865 but lived most of his life in Great Britain.

His son John was killed at the age of 18, in the Battle of Loos in 1915. Some of Kipling's best-loved publications include The Jungle Book, Just So Stories, Puck Of Pook's Hill, Rewards And Fairies, Kim, and Collected Dog Stories.

"Kipling was a tremendously brilliant kids' writer," said Belinda. "He had a great love of children and was a great communicator with them. But in the play we see the sacrifice he has to make and it is a very interesting dilemma."

With their extensively rich and varied theatre pedigrees, David and Belinda have come together to produce My Boy Jack under the banner of Haig Lang Productions, an exciting new company devoted to touring quality theatre around the country.

"I am very keen on touring," said Belinda.

"However, when I have been asked to do plays before they have not always been to my taste. David and I decided to set this company up so we can choose what we want to do.

"We are taking a bit of a risk with My Boy Jack because it is a different type of play which you would usually get from one of the established companies but we think the play has been well chosen and it is very well performed."

One of Belinda's most popular TV roles was that of Bill in the BBC sit-com 2 Point 4 Children which was very popular.

"I think the reason it was so successful was because you had this normal family who were a bit wacky and people could identify with their run-of-the-mill dilemmas, while being amused by the lunacy," she said. "A lot of people said they could identify with the different characters."

Belinda has also starred in the sit-com Dear John, Inspector Alleyan Mysteries and Justice In Wonderland and has a string of theatre credits including The Peter Hall Company's production of On Approval and more recently in the West End Things We Do For Love, The Secret Rapture and Life x 3.

David Haig plays the role of Kipling. His TV work includes The Thin Blue Line, Hustle, and Keeping Mum. He also appeared in the film's Four Weddings And A Funeral and Two Week's Notice. David's theatre credits include Art in London and New York and Ayckbourn comedies House and Garden at the National Theatre. Most recently he starred in the West End production of R C Sherriff's First World War drama, Journey's End.

My Boy Jack

Theatre Royal Bath

Monday until May 1