Writer Patrick Hamilton has garnered a cult following in recent years.

While his contemporaries such as Evelyn Waugh and Graham Greene were given a greater status in the literary canon, Hamilton's genius was not generally recognised until much later.

As well as his ability to write, in the words of actor Peter Amory, a "bloody good play," his connection to Brighton and Hove will be a pull to many curious theatre-goers.

Born in Hassocks, Hamilton was educated at Holland House School in Hove. Hamilton's bar in First Avenue, Hove marks the spot where he once lived.

Several of his books, including The West Pier and parts of his classic novel Hangover Square are set in Brighton. Although there are no explicit references to Brighton in Gaslight, the play is typically dark.

Throughout his work, Hamilton portrays a vivid world of comic horror - of rented accommodation, pubs and tea houses, where the lost, failed and pitiful meet, bore, comfort or abuse each other. It was also the world which, for much of his life, Hamilton chose to inhabit.

Peter Amory, who plays manipulative, malevolent Mr Manningham says: "My character is an out and out psychopath. He is totally ruthless." This is a far cry from Peter's role in Emmerdale Farm as Chris Tate - Chris may not be particularly likeable, but at least he has some redeeming features.

Amory admits that: "Maintaining that degree of nastiness and turning of the screw is exhausting. And not at all to type, I might add," he jokes.

Manningham is a diabolical villain, trying to drive his wife Bella (Leah Bracknell) insane with fear for his own evil purposes. The action takes place in smoggy Victorian London, in their second-floor flat.

While Manningham is suave and authoritative, Bella is nervous, timid and, unsurprisingly, paranoid. Haunted by ghosts, she is terrified she is losing her mind - until she meets Rough, a former copper who provides an explanation for the mysterious happenings.

Suspense and shocks are plenty. Tellingly, Gaslight, written in 1939, was later made into a film by the king of horrorible half-hours, Alfred Hitchcock.

"It's not your traditional bodies in the attic type thriller," says Peter. "It's far more devious and dark than that."

Starts 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sep 21 and Sat, Sep 24, 2pm. No show Sun 18. Tickets £13-£22. Call 01903 206206.