This play is inspired by the facts of a well-known case, but the characters attibuted to the individuals represented are based on the author's imagination, and are not necessarily factual.

The true store is that of the trial of George Stoner and Alma Rattenbury for the murder of her husband.

The playwright, Terence Rattigan was born in London on 10 June 1911 into a distinguished but not wealthy family. As his father had to constantly travel abroad, Terence spent his early school days at a preparatory boarding schoool in Surrey. Here he developed his interest in the theatre and during the holidays, would constantly harass his parents to take him to the theatre.

At Trinity College at Oxford he developed this growing interest and by 1934, he had written and produced his first real play entitled 'First Episode'. He followed this initial success, some two years later with one of his more popular plays, 'French Without Tears'. In 1940 he joined the RAF and wrote the play 'Flarepath' about his experiences.

Terence enjoyed continued success both as a playwright and a screenwriter, In 1946 his play, 'The Winslow Boy', won the Ellen Terry Best Play award and in 1959, 'The Browning Version' won him the Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Two years before he had written 'Variation on a Theme', which became the first play in which he openly addressed the issue of his homosexuality.

1962, Terence was diagnosed with leukaemia, and feeling out of touch with British culture he moved to Bermuda.

Although he rarely returned to England he lived to see a large number of successful revivals of his plays and was awarded a knighthood in 1971.

'Cause Célèbre was his last play. It was originally written for the radio but following its broadcast in October 1975, he was asked to adapt it for stage. It opened at Her Majesty's Theatre, London on 4 July 1976 and was attended by Sir Terence, who was now very ill.

The following year he returned to Bermuda but sadly he lost his fight with his illness and died on 30 November 1977.