THE timeless love story of C S Lewis and Joy Davidman is the subject of a new touring production arriving at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester next week.

Shadowlands by William Nicholson, follows the love affair between C S Lewis, Oxford don and author of The Chronicles of Narnia, and the American poet Joy Davidman.

Set in and around the dreaming spires of Oxford's university community, Lewis finds his quiet life with his brother Warnie disrupted by the outspoken, feisty Davidman, whose uninhibited behaviour offers a sharp contrast to the rigid sensibilities of the male-dominated university.

During the course of the play, what begins as a formal meeting of two very different minds slowly develops into a feeling of mutual respect and love, each providing the other with new ways of viewing the world.

But eventually there's tragedy when Lewis’s Christian faith is tested to the full as Joy is diagnosed with cancer.

Shadowlands won the Evening Standard Drama Award for Best Play in 1990 while the writer was nominated for a Tony Award when it transferred to Broadway. The film version, which starred Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger, also won Best British Film at the 1994 BAFTAs.

The cast is led by Stephen Boxer, who has starred in Humans and the feature film, The Iron Lady, who plays C S Lewis, and Amanda Ryan, who has appeared in the re-make of The Forsyte Saga and Shameless, who is Joy Davidman.

Other actors appearing in the show includes Denis Lill, who plays Lewis' brother Major W H Lewis 'Warnie', and Simon Shackleton as Professor Christopher Riley.

Directed by Alastair Whatley this new production is being toured by the very popular Birdsong Productions, who have had recent hits at the Mercury including Birdsong and Flare Path.

Shadowlands is at the Mercury Theatre from Monday to Saturday, July 4 to 9, at 7.30pm and 2.30pm on Thursday and Saturday.

For tickets go on-line at www.mercurytheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 01206 573948.