Back in the 1970s Brimstone & Treacle - originally a BBC TV series was thought to be so highly controversial that it was banned from being aired. Fast forward almost 40 years and Andrew Knight has taken the stage adaptation and made this dark play even more sinister.

Written by Dennis Potter, Brimstone & Treacle centres around Mr and Mrs Bates and there daughter Pattie, who was involved in a hit and run accident, which left her severely disabled. A stranger called Martin comes into their lives and claims to know Pattie - he says they went to college together and were once engaged.

Situations then take a more sinister and dramatic turn and to find out more, we caught up with Andrew, who directs The Pump House Theatre Company for this show and is also chairman of Kings Langley Players.

The play was originally banned on TV - what are your thoughts on this?

The series was made in the ‘70s and people were not used to such controversy on TV screens, we have now moved on considerably, and nowadays a lot more controversy hits our screens.

What research have you done for this production?

I watched the film with Sting and the play version with Michael Kitchen. I also researched past productions. I work with adults with learning and physical disabilities, so I have a good insight into how the role of Pattie should be portrayed, and also having worked with and talked to parents who have had to come to terms with their son or daughter’s disability and what they have to cope with. I feel that I have bought my experience to the rehearsal room.

How have you made it relevant to today’s audience?

I class this play as a grippy thriller and I keep it real by getting across to our audience that these are a real family trying to cope with tragic events. I am lucky enough to be working with four talented actors who achieve this 100 per cent.

The play has several dark themes – is there anything you have changed/ omitted in your version of the play?

I have tried to build up the suspense and tension rather than address a subject without any warning. I want the audience to be on the edge of their seats and anticipating what may happen next. Nothing has been changed, as the writing is what it is - but I have added bits that build up the tension and to make it as sinister as possible.

How do you go about portraying a character who is unable to communicate?

I do have experience in working with physicality disabled adults with communication difficulties, so hopefully I have bought my experience to this production. Also I needed an excellent actress to portray the part of Pattie, and I have that in Sophie Palumbo. Through rehearsal we have talked and worked through the right mannerisms and feelings that Pattie may have.

Can you tell me a bit about your career as a director – how did you start out/ what plays have you directed before?

This is the seventh production that I have directed. It all started when Kings Langley Players were looking for new directors and I was one of the people who was asked to direct. So seven shows in, I think you can say that I enjoy directing.

The first show I directed was The Maintenance Man, then two years later I did, What The Butler Saw. I then ventured into the world of directing pantomimes; Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast. Last June I directed Little Shop of Horrors for the Kings Langley Players 90th celebrations.

What do you do when you’re not directing plays?

Sleep. I do act as well, and help out on whatever productions require it.

Have you always had an interest in theatre?

Yes, my mum (Pat Knight) used to direct for many local amateur dramatic societies, she directed a lot of musicals, so I guess you can say that I grew up with it.

What was the first play you went to see and how old were you?

I think it was The Maintenance Man with John Alderton, I think I was about 11 or 12. As you can see it obviously made an impression on me as I later went onto direct it.

Have you worked on many challenging productions before?

Yes, I would say Little Shop of Horrors is high on my list. Directing a musical and working with a man-eating plant is no mean feet.

Do you have any funny stage anecdotes to share?

I was in a production of On the Razzle by Tom Stoppard in Ireland for Kings Langley Players. I had to climb up a ladder and over a wall. During the last dress rehearsal, the ladder slipped, I was hanging onto the wall thinking I was going to fall, but forgetting I was about an inch from the floor, due to my height. The funniest thing was that I had people hanging on to me from the bottom of my legs, forgetting themselves, that my feet were inches away from the ground.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Being involved in amateur theatre can take up a lot of your time. Apart from that I enjoy going out to the theatre, cinema, nice meals and spending quality time with my fiancee Wendy.

Brimstone & Treacle, Pump House Theatre, Local Board Road, Watford High Street, April 25 to 30. Details: 0333 666 3366, pumphouse.info