Play: Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Wimbledon Studio

The story follows two rivals who use sex as a weapon to humiliate others while enjoying their cruel games and next week at Wimbledon Studio Carlton Dramatic Society will be the latest group to put on Christopher Hampton's stage adaption of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos's ground-breaking 18th century novel.

"It is an interesting play because it deals with the questions of love, sexuality, morals, corruption and life," says Mehmet Izbudak, who is directing his ninth play with the group.

"It gets into the minds of people and although in one sense they can see it as a bit aloof because it's an 18th century French play, all these thoughts do go through our minds.

"There's a little devil and a little angel inside all of us fighting to dominate our thoughts."

Laclos's story was a mammoth read when it first came out in 1782, published over four novels and composed entirely of letters.

200 years later Hampton took those novels and adapted them for the stage, basing the play on the letters but not telling it solely through them.

"I read the novel which is quite a feet because an 18th century novel can be quite a hard read," says Mehmet.

"Hampton did a really good job of adapting it for the stage and from a directors point of view it's exciting because you are dealing with feelings and emotions which is great and from an actors point of view it is good too because even the small roles have juicy bits in them."

The group last performed at Wimbledon Studio in April with the pay Black Widow and it's a venue Mehmet adores.

"It's a space I like very much because you can do anything with it," he says.

"The action is so close to the audience, you have someone saying I love you or I hate you or I want to kill you just two meters away."

Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Wimbledon Studio, The Broadway, July 14 to 18, 7.45pm (Sat matinee 3pm), £14. Call 0844 871 7615 or visit newwimbledontheatre.co.uk.k