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TARS of three of the best-known series in British television history head the cast in a production of 'the play the CIA don't want you to see' Killing Castro.

Casualty star Clive Mantle, the actor who brought Sherlock Holmes' sidekick Dr Watson to life, Edward Hardwicke, and Robin of Sherwood himself Michael Praed bring the story of plots to kill Cuban leader Fidel Castro to the stage.

Killing Castro has won plaudits from the public and the press during its performances in the US.

It follows the story of American plots to remove the bearded revolutionary leader from power after he ousted a US backed regime in 1959.

When the American backed invasion by Cuban exiles at the Bay Of Pigs in 1961 ended in failure, the CIA set out to remove Castro by more imaginative means. First it tried using an exploding cigar and then daubed the end of his Havana with poison.

These schemes failed and the Cuban leader remains in power more than four decades later.

A BBC documentary inspired British playwright Brian Stewart to write a play about the shocking and often surreal plots to assassinate Castro.

Killing Castro examines the sometimes humorous nature of those schemes but is also touched with sadness at the way the world is run.

Clive Mantle is best known for his role as Dr Mike Barratt in Casualty and its sister show Holby City, but also played Little John in Robin of Sherwood, opposite his Killing Castro co-star Michael Praed.

Praed was known to British audiences as Prince Michael of Moldavia, son in law of Joan Collins' character Alexis in the TV series Dynasty.

Killing Castro comes to the Regent Theatre in Stoke from July 10 to 15.

Tickets, priced £7 to £19.50, are available from the box office on 0870 060 6649.