ROBERT POWELL and Liza Goddard take the lead parts in an espionage double being staged at Malvern Theatres from October 28.

Single Spies, Alan Bennett's two short plays about infamous secret agents Anthony Blunt and Guy Burgess allows the audience a peek into the real-lives of the two well-educated, well-connected men who risked everything for their political beliefs.

Both plays are set in 1958.

In An Englishman Abroad Burgess is seen in Moscow shortly after his spying activities were revealed to the world. Entertaining actress Coral Browne in his Soviet-issue flat, the exiled Etonian is shown clinging to anything English, inviting English society gossip and giving his measurements for a new pinstripe suit from a London tailor.

In A Question of Attribution, the second part, Professor Anthony Blunt is surveying a fake Titian in Buckingham Palace.

In the play he is a pillar of the establishment, knighted in 1956, an international art historian and director of the Courtauld Institute of Art, yet Blunt is a communist spy.

Powell, who became famous for fighting off spies and enemies of the British government as Richard Hannay in The Thirty Nine Steps, plays both roles.

He is also known for his recent role in television comedy, The Detectives, playing alongside Jasper Carrott.

Opposite Powell here is Give Us A Clue star Liza Goddard, who appeared in Malvern in Lady Windermere's Fan in 2000, and takes the roles of Browne and the Queen, who may suspect Blunts spying.

Single Spies runs from October 28 until November 2 with performances at 8pm and Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm.

Tickets are from £12 to £22 from 01684 892277 or www.malvern-theatres.co.uk.