A PLAY which won Hollywood star Nicole Kidman the accolade "theatrical Viagra" when she stripped off on stage each night is coming to Worcester.

David Hare's The Blue Room caused a storm when the former Mrs Tom Cruise bared all for the play - described as a "clinical" look at men and women's quest for sexual satisfaction.

Now the production - without Kidman, of course - is to open the Swan's spring season, and artistic director Jenny Stephens claims it demonstrates the theatre's aim of "pushing the boundaries" to bring cutting-edge entertainment to the city.

"The Blue Room is a fantastic play but has a strong adult theme," she said today.

"It's a fantastic contemporary play and shows the theatre's commitment of providing the widest possible range of shows for our audience."

The nudity, which is described as brief, has prompted a warning in this season's programme.

The Blue Room was inspired by Arthur Schnitzler's La Ronde, which scandalised the public in its original 1921 version and resulted in the author facing prosecution for obscenity.

But Yasmin Wilde, due to star alongside actor Jeffrey Harmer - who once worked as a kiss-o-gram - said the play was really about intimacy and relationships.

"It's a look at how we're always try to work out what relationships are and sex is part of relationships," she said.

"All the sex is implied as the show concentrates on the build-up to, and aftermath of, sex. It's not judgemental or cynical, but it will be an edgy, powerful play."

The actress, who has only appeared topless on stage once before - after a mistake during a costume change - said she was unconcerned about appearing naked in the production.

"When people asked me how I felt about appearing naked I did think I'd have a problem with it," she added.

"But now I've seen the script I don't feel as bothered about the nudity because it's my character and not me that will be naked on the stage."

The Blue Room opens on Thursday, February 7.