A STORY of 'frailty, pride and resilience' is providing intense drama on the Bolton Little Theatre stage this week.

The theatre is taking audiences back to Berlin seventy years ago for a production of Ronald Harwood’s award winning ‘Taking Sides’.

The play, which was highly critically acclaimed when it opened in the West End in 1995, looks at the true story of the interrogation of Berlin Philharmonic conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler who was under suspicion of being a Nazi sympathiser during the Second World War.

Director Glenn Robinson explains: "It’s a compelling story of human frailty, pride and resilience, and one that, even though it took place seventy years ago, could easily be substituted for some of the machinations of contemporary politics and public figures."

Set in a postwar denazification unit, Furtwängler, played by Michael Tatman, faces his accuser Major Steve Arnold, played by Peter Scofield, to explain why he remained in Berlin throughout the war to conduct the Philharmonic.

Arnold is is convinced that Furtwängler’s protestations hide more than he is revealing and insists on interviewing his staff and musicians in the hope of getting to the truth.

While the interrogator insists the composer's actions helped to legitimise the Reich, Furtwängler argues that, at the risk of his own life, helped many Jews to escape from Germany.

Michael has his own take on the great man, having researched his recorded work and even made contact with the daughter of Hermann Scherchen, who was also a prominent conductor at the time but left Germany in the 1930s in protest of the Nazi regime.

"Myriam has sent me significant resource material from which I have gained many insights into the character I'm playing," He added.

"I was hypnotised, and at the end, sitting at home by my screen, whooped with joy and wiped a tear at the sheer artistry of the man.

"He is a fascinating character to play and it's been an absolutely fantastic experience playing out his story on the stage.

"People have come away saying who engaged with the play they have been. We know the audience has been there with us and totally involved, that is the nature of the play."

Taking Sides runs until Saturday at Bolton Little Theatre in Hanover Street. Tickets cost £10 each, to book call 01204 524469.