JOHN Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, one of the classic American novels of the 20th Century, is being brought brought to the stage in Malvern.

TV's Matthew Kelly, better known for shows such as Stars in their Eyes, plays Lennie in Jonathan Church's acclaimed production by Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, it tells the tale of George and Lennie, who are determined to buy a farm of their own after years of scraping a living as itinerant farm workers.

The two friends soon experience the dark side of the American Dream, and their friendship is tested to the absolute limit.

Steinbeck wrote the book that made his name in 1936 and even while he was writing it, he viewed it in dramatic terms.

When it became a runaway bestseller, he was asked to adapt it for the stage, where it became a Broadway hit, spawning more than one film version.

Matthew Kelly's theatre credits are numerous, including the Royal National Theatre's production of The Pied Piper and Funny Peculiar in the West End.

George is played by George Costigan, whose theatre experience is vast and includes roles for the RNT and Birmingham Rep. His TV appearances include BBC1's Linda Green, in which he played Brian.

The stage set recreates 1930s rural California, complete with riverside, water tower and haystacks, while the music is provided by John Tams, a former member of the Albion Band.

Of Mice and Men is at the Festival Theatre from March 31 to April 5. Tickets (£10-£18) are available from the box office on 01684 892277 or www.malvern-theatres.co.uk.