Martin Shaw plays Thomas More in a tale of marriage-happy king Henry VIII and his right-hand man.

When Henry’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, cannot give him the heir he needs, Henry believes he has the perfect excuse to divorce and remarry his newest darling, Anne Boleyn. Needing approval from both religion and society he seeks the support from Thomas More. The scholar and churchman finds himself in a very precarious position; he must choose between his beliefs and his life.

Robert Bolt’s play won a Tony when staged on Broadway, and inspired the 1966 film version which won six Oscars and seven BAFTAs.

Martin Shaw is most easily recognisable as Judge John Deed, the eponymous lawman from the hit BBC drama. In the past he dished at law in a very different way, getting his big television break in The Professionals. On stage his credits include The Country Girl, Betrayal, Are You Lonesome Tonight? and an award-winning performance in An Ideal Husband.