MOTHER and stepdaughter duo, Caroline Harker and Louise Calf, will be returning to the Salisbury Playhouse stage next week with Breaking the Code.

Hugh Whitemore’s compelling play intertwines the story of the Second World War genius Alan Turing and his work on breaking the complex German Enigma code, with the tale of his persecution as a homosexual in 1950s Britain.

“[Breaking the Code] is beautifully written, because it has enough about Alan’s family and personal life to make you care even more about the other mathematics side, which may have alienated the audience,” says Caroline, who plays the mother of Alan, Sara Turing.

“[Sara] must have adored Alan and must have been so fascinated by him, but also worried about him and his future.”

Based on the cryptanalyst Joan Clarke, Louise will be playing Pat, who not only introduces Alan to the Enigma machine but falls in love with him.

“It is sad because Alan is in love with Pat’s mind but that is all it can be,” explains Louise.

Caroline and Louise are currently rehearsing for Breaking the Code in the day, but by night they have transformed into Sheila and Ginny, for the comedic and chaotic tale currently showing in Salisbury, Alan Ayckbourn’s Relatively Speaking.

Louise said: “It’s been great fun juggling both because they’re so different, we’ve been getting the seriousness and drama of Breaking the Code in the day, and then laughing away at night.”

Both productions have introduced an ‘in the round’ setting to Salisbury Playhouse, which invites the audience to get closer to the action and see actors from every perspective and angle.

Caroline described performing ‘in the round’ as “an amazing feeling”, adding: “It’s certainly a challenge, everything you do needs to be free, open and broad all the time, but the audience is so much more involved.”

Breaking the Code will be the fourth production Caroline and Louise have done together.

Caroline added: “It’s very comforting to trust the actors you work with.”

Relatively Speaking ends its run today, and Breaking the Code will be in the Main House at Salisbury Playhouse from October 5 until 26.

For more information and tickets visit the Wiltshire Creative website.