AWARD-winning director Fred Petersen is returning to the stage with a shocking thriller when Garrick Theatre’s latest production  opens later this month in Guildford.

Petersen said Shock! was set in the converted windmill home of air hostess Maggie, who invites Ann and Terry, her pilot and latest conquest, to celebrate her birthday.

 “When the guests arrive Maggie’s not there and naturally enough the phone's been cut off,” he said.

“Maggie has been a voracious predator with a penchant for other people's partners so everyone has a motive for foul play.

“She has some peculiar tastes, including tape-recording the most private intimacies between herself and her lovers.”

Petersen said Maggie’s indulgences soon causes consternation amongst the visitors including her neighbours Jenny and Peter.

“This culminates in the death of Ann’s fiancé,” he said.

“A second horrific climax causes Ann to become distraught when Jenny threatens Ann with extreme accusations.

“A final twist proves the relevance of the play’s title.”

Petersen said he chanced upon the script for Shock! whilst rummaging through a box of scripts at the Garrick Theatre.

“When I saw it was written by Brian Clemens, well known for his TV scripting including The Avengers and Diagnosis Murder, my first reaction was I must read this,” he said,

“It grabbed me from page one and at the conclusion I said, why has this not been done?

“Now with a great cast we hope to achieve the intrigue and emotion that Clemens intended.”

Petersen said the main challenge as director was maintaining the naturalness of a normal slice of life which becomes sinister.

“I will be ensuring the audience are lulled into a comfortable zone of empathy before we hit them with the truth,” he said.