Neil Pearson and Julian Glover square up in a battle of wits and words when Taking Sides comes to The Theatre Royal in Bath from 21st October.

Read our interview with actor Julian Glover.

Written by award-winning author and playwright, Ronald Harwood, Taking Sides is based on the true story of conductor Willhelm Furtwangler's interrogation as a Nazi sympathiser after the war.

Set in Occupied Berlin in 1946, the swaggering interrogator at the De-Nazification trial is Major Steve Arnold, a former insurance fraud investigator who knows nothing about the arts but who is determined to nail the conductor.

To all but Arnold, Furtwangler mounts a persuasive defence case. But there are no easy answers…

Willhelm Furtwangler was one of the outstanding orchestral conductors of his generation and Hitler's personal favourite, leading the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra throughout the Nazi era.

The focus of this gripping play is the accusations by the De-Nazification Tribunal at the end of World War II in Occupied Berlin.

Furtwangler astonished many of his colleagues by choosing to remain in Germany throughout the war, whilst many of his peers went into exile. But does that make him a Nazi sympathiser? Did he have a choice when public disrespect for the regime was the equivalent of a death warrant? Little is known of the group who carried out this interrogation; what is known is that Furtwangler was humiliated, pursued and, even after his acquittal, misinformation followed him.

This rivetting play aims to throw new light on the trial and Furtwangler's true motives.

Neil Pearson stars as Major Steve Arnold, an American working for the De-Nazification Tribunal who is determined to uncover the truth. Neil Pearson appeared in the films Bridget Jones' Diary and Fever Pitch, and is a familiar face on our television screens, starring, most recently, in Trevor's World of Sport and The Booze Cruise, as well as his well-known roles in Drop the Dead Donkey and Between The Lines.

Julian Glover

Julian Glover stars as the brilliant, orchestral conductor, Willhelm urtwangler. Julian Glover's classical theatre credits include King Lear and his many leading roles for the RSC include an Olivier award-winning Henry IV. West End productions include Waiting for Godo and Macbeth. His film work includes Harry Potter: The Chamber of Secrets, in which he plays Aragog, the spider; Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; Star Wars ­ The Empire Strikes Back; and For Your Eyes Only.

Julian took time out from rehearsals to discuss Taking Sides and what theatregoers can expect from the play. Read our interview below.

How would you describe the play?

Well It's a sort of whodunnit, except at the end you don't really know 'whodunnit' because that's the whole point of the title - Taking Sides. The audience makes up it's own mind or doesn't according to how persuasive we've been as to which way the dice should go. It's a story about someone being accused of something and it's a sparring match between two very strong people with very strong opinions - very self admittedly prejudiced opinions. What's so amazing about the play is it seems to be about a very heavy subject but Ronald Harwood has written a play which is eminently entertaining. The dialogue is really alive and often very funny despite the terrible things going on. What's so remarkable about is that no one kills anybody in it or anything people just talk at each other. I saw it when it first opened in London and was absolutely overwhelmed by it and thought 'God I'd love to play that'. Daniel Massey played the part of Furtwangler and he was amazingly wonderful. I came away from that thinking I really had to do this now and I went about trying to get it set up and here we are. I'm very happy as we have the most fantastic Neil Pearson.

Have you worked with Neil Pearson before?

No I haven't but my wife (actress Isla Blair) has. They did a television series together. I can't think of a single other actor who is so completely perfect for this part. He has all the energy and the life, the humour and the vitriol, the wit, he's just terrific.

So the play doesn't really offer up any answers as to the question of Furtwangler's guilt?

It offers up answers but whether you believe those answers is another matter. When I saw it in Germany the arguments that went on after the show were wonderful to hear about whether Furtwangler actually had been a member of the party or went with the flow of events, why did he get all those Jews out? What's great about it is that it's not only about Furtwangler and his inquisitor, it's about anybody doubting anybody's integrity in life and by god don't we all know about that!

What is your personal take on Furtwangler?

I can't tell you that because I don't think even he knew. First of all you think I'm going to play the part so I've got to believe he's a good bloke but then you start the play and you realise all the arguments are so viable and so reasonable and so informed. You think like he does - 'has my whole life been a lie or hasn't it?' You've got to understand that he was a man who was completely and utterly engrossed in music. That's all he was interested in. He sort of didn't take notice. When all that awful business was going on in the 30s and 40s he thought it was a blip that would all blow over. That's how he considered it. To put yourself into the mind of someone like that is a very difficult thing. This is what is so interesting about the play.

How do you approach playing a real-life person rather a fictional character?

You find out what you can about the person. Some actors find out every single thing they can find out. I personally don't do that. I read and listen to other people's opinions of the people but I find if you research too much there are so many conflicting views and opinions that you can't select very easily. I'm simply reading a book written by Furtwangler's private secretary which is the whole history of this episode and everything around it and I've read stuff off the internet about him. Now I've got to go on and be him!

The play begins its UK run in Bath, is the Theatre Royal one of your favourite theatres?

It's perfect. I can say that without any qualification at all, it is the most beautiful theatre, a dream to play in. It's intimate and you get good audiences there not only numerically but also in quality. I adore Bath anyway and can't think of anywhere better to kick off the play.

You're well known for appearing in a number of cult movies, which was most memorable of all these roles?

Well appearing in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and For Your Eyes Only were two major film villains which I've done rather a lot of in my career. Star Wars was not a very big part but I enjoyed doing it and I get more fan mail for that than anything else I've ever done. It's quite extraordinary, it comes in every day, unbelievable.

Taking Sides runs at The Theatre Royal in Bath from Tuesday 21st October-Saturday 25th October. To book tickets call the Theatre Royal Box Office on 01225 448844.