DIRECTOR Natalie Crompton has been fascinated and intrigued by the story of tortured genius Alan Turing, since travelling along the road named after the code-breaker as a university student.

Now under her directorship, The Marco Players will bring to life the triumphs and struggles of the 20th century genius next week, with Hugh Whitemore’s Breaking The Code.

The play takes the audience through the life of Turing, the WW2 code breaker and father of modern computing, whose work on breaking the German Enigma code at Bletchley Park is estimated to have help shorten the war by up to two years, saving millions of lives in the process.

But Turing had other struggles. He was a gay man and that had a significant impact on his life, eventually resulting in his conviction for gross indecency.

“Breaking the Code is a play I have wanted to direct for and this year I have the opportunity to do it,” said Natalie.

“I went to Manchester University and remember being on Alan Turing Way and not really knowing who he was apart from what he had done with the Enigma Code. The more I found out, the more fascinated I was; his work is still having an impact on the world, the fact he had to love in secret. The play looks at his relationships with his friends, his mother and what is for them living with a genius.”

Natalie said that with any ‘pet project’ she was worried the reality would not live up to her expectations.

But she said: “In this case the opposite is true. I’ve been able to work with a very talented cast who’ve brought a lot of enthusiasm and positivity to the rehearsal process – it’s been a joy and truly exceeded all expectations “Rehearsals got underway in January but the actor playing Alan, Christian Brabin, and myself met a few times in December.”

Natalie added: “It is a very moving play, there is some humour — Alan had a wry sense of humour. People are able to relate to every aspect of this remarkable story.”

Fran Shinks, who plays Pat Green, Turing’s colleague and friend at Bletchley Park, agrees.She said: “It’s been quite an experience rehearsing the play. I think most people knew about Turing’s work at Bletchley Park but his role in developing a new world of electronic computers at Manchester was new to me, as was his interest in the mathematics of biology and the living world.”

Throughout rehearsals we’ve talked about the importance of the story we’re telling,” said Christian, “Alan’s story is remarkable, unique in many ways – but at its heart it’s like all our stories: a person trying to find out who they really are.”

n Breaking The Code runs from February 28 to March 3 at Stepping Stones Nursery, Chorley Old Road, Bolton. Details from 01204 841561 or 07756 510462 or email tickets@marcoplayers.org