The Last Confession will officially open at the Haymarket on July 4 following previews from June 28.

The play received its world premiere at the Chichester Festival on May 8. Previews began April 27. Crane's Vatican-set thriller is inspired by the death in 1978 of Pope John Paul I just 33 days after being elected. Crane's premise is that reactionary forces within the Vatican considered the new Pope to be too liberal, resulting in the Pope's murder.

He was found dead after three of his most hostile cardinals were told that they were to be replaced. Suchet plays Cardinal Benelli, who challenges the dead Pope's enemies.

Suchet's West End performances include Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Amadeus, Oleanna, Man and Boy and, at the National, Once in a Lifetime. To television audiences he is best known as Agatha Christie's "Poirot."

The production is directed by David Jones with design by William Dudley. Crane lives and works in New York, and The Last Confession is his first play. For more on the Chichester run of the The Last Confession, which is booking until May 19, call 001243 781312.