A play about Jimmy Savile, announced as part of the new season at Park Theatre, is already attracting controversy.

Impressionist and actor Alistair McGowan will star in An Audience with Jimmy Savile at the Finsbury Park theatre from June 10, but campaigners are trying to put a stop to it and have launched a petition on website 38Degrees saying Savile should be 'erased' from public memory.

Written by Jonathan Maitland, whose Thatcher play Dead Sheep is currently on at the theatre, this is the first play to explore what has been dubbed the most shocking sexual abuse scandal of our time.

Mr Maitland, a regular reporter on ITV’s Tonight programme, has draw extensively on material from genuine interviews, transcripts and TV shows in his research for the play and says while many have "recoiled" at the idea of it, he believes it is of genuine public interest.

Park Theatre artistic director Jez Bond says: "In true Park style we’re continuing to demonstrate our commitment to both new writing and great revivals, and to present bold, relevant and challenging plays.

"I believe that theatre is not just entertainment – it’s also about opening discussion and challenging perspectives, holding a mirror up to nature and tackling even the most uncomfortable issues so we learn from our mistakes.”

Park Theatre won the Fringe Theatre of the Year in the Stage 2015 awards and will celebrate its second birthday on May 8. Its new season will including eight new writing world premieres alongside a number of exciting revivals.

They include striking new family drama The Gathered Leaves by Andrew Keatley and a new play by Craig Baxter, inspired by a work of Anthony Trollope. Lady Anna: All At Sea has been commissioned by the Trollope Society as part of the Trollop Bicentennial Celebrations.

Steve Thompson (Doctor Who, Sherlock, Upstairs, Downstairs) kicks off the autumn with his financial sector dark comedy Roaring Trade, which is followed by the UK debut of Donald Margulies’ Pulitzer Prize winning play Dinner with Friends.

Details: parktheatre.co.uk