IN this age of interactivity, it was inevitable that sooner or later the opportunity for overt audience participation in the theatre would present itself.

Not content with enjoying a story that possesses a simple beginning, middle, and end, it now seems that today's audiences feel cheated unless they have some hand in its development and outcome.

And so, in Jeffrey Archer's new play, The Accused, we again see the novelist and former politician opting for the crowd-puller by forcing the audience to take part.

The Herald spoke to Edward Petherbridge, who plays Sir James Barrington QC, to find out more about The Accused and his own departure, as a successful thespian, on to the stage of the quintessential populist.

Mr Petherbridge, despite having had a brief flirtation with panto in the 50s when he was seven, has consistently been a player in more marginally appreciated productions.

He said: "I have worked out recently that I have done about 1.6 'master-pieces' a year since I started. I haven't been in a lot of broadly popular vehicles."

Indeed, his record is as high-brow as it is impressive. In 1964 he joined the National Theatre at the Old Vic to walk on in Olivier's Othello and since then his career has never lost momentum.

He became a founder member of the Actors' Company in 1972 and in 1979 joined the Royal Shakespeare Company for its first small-scale tour.

His portrayal of Nicholas Nickelby has earned him a London Critics' Drama Award and a Tony Award on Broadway, not to mention winning an Olivier Award and Tony Nomination for his part of Marsden in Eugene O'Neill's Strange Interlude.

Given his classical pedigree it seems odd that he should be part of this play.

He sees his latest project as part of a learning process and says that since being taught acting in Bradford, in the early 60s, he has always searched eagerly for the next challenge, whatever the cultural worth attached to it.

"When a job doesn't question or challenge what you've been doing all your life, it's not worth doing."

Edward has branched out into television, with BBC films such as Journey's End and The Bill.

The actors on the Bill impressed him immensely. "They have reached a level of naturalism, of actuality, that is amazing."

He is equally as enthusiastic about The Accused.

In The Accused, the spectator is actively instrumental in the protagonist's fate.

While Edward is a QC, Archer himself is scheduled to play Dr Sherwood, a man allegedly embroiled in an adulterous affair that has led to the murder of his wife.

The audience serves as the jury, listening to the testimonies and indictments and presiding over Dr Sherwood's fate. After the collective verdict has been passed, the play concludes by taking either the guilty or the not-guilty route.

Considering Archer's reputation and the lack of serious critical acclaim for his books, one might think this a brave project to tackle even from behind the scenes, let alone out in the spotlight in the lead role.

But Edward was quietly impressed with both Archer's conduct as a famous person and his acting ability.

"He didn't come into the play with any arrogance. He was neither under-confident or over-confident."

Edward was also pleased with the play's progress so far.

"I thought it was a real success. Yes. One really did feel it was underway and going somewhere."

On what it was like working with a man who has courted as much controversy as he has accrued millions in the bank, Edward recognised Archer's need to maintain his privacy.

He said: "Anyone who has had this much success is bound to be mysterious, a figure of fascination."

The Accused runs at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, from November 20 - 25.

Steven Berriman