TUDOR England is in turmoil as Henry VIII seeks to throw off his Spanish wife and, with her, the Pope's authority.

He wants Anne Boleyn and he wants an heir.

At the still centre of the raging storm of public opinion stands the immutable figure of Thomas More, Lord Chancellor and conscience of both king and country.

Robert Bolt's A Man for All Seasons, at Malvern Theatres this week, is a superbly crafted piece of work and Michael Rudman's new production is a masterly interpretation.

The starry cast (including the most popular man on British TV) attracted a capacity audience and they were not to be disappointed.

Martin Shaw effortlessly combines More's humanity and intellectual rigour, never more so than in his final moments with his wife and daughter. In a prison cell and in chains, his fine robes replaced with sacking, he is husband, father and martyr-in-the-making.

But it is by no means a one-man show: Paul Shelley as the Duke of Norfolk is family friend but master-politician who almost meets his match in the pragmatic, sinister Thomas Cromwell (Clive Carter).

Tony Bell is the Common Man whose narrative stitches the whole seamlessly together, adopting a range of voices - and hats.

Literally towering over all is the glitteringly charismatic brute Henry (Daniel Flynn), who shows the animal magnetism and ruthless charm of the absolute monarch determined to have his way.

Malvern has produced yet another autumn scoop in this fine production en route to the West End. It continues until Saturday.

LG