We drooled over Brad Pitt in the big screen version of Troy, and we know the tale of the Trojan Wars and Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships.

You may even have read or seen a Greek play before – but never like this. Never performed in a pool of treacle.

Stink Foot is coming to the stage at The Yard Theatre with a bathtub full of the sticky syrup and starring Daniel Millar.

He has previously acted in everything from EastEnders to the stage version of Frankenstein with Benedict Cumberbatch at the National Theatre but says this is without a doubt his weirdest role.

“We are getting the treacle out today,” says the 32-year-old in a break from rehearsals, “but I already had to try it out by getting in a bathtub of it. It felt quite nice. If you are ever bored just put your hand in some treacle and see what it feels like. I sound a bit perverted now don’t I?”

The Wandsworth father-of-two plays master archer Philoctetes who is on his way to war when he gets bitten on the foot by a snake and won’t stop screaming in agony. His fed up comrades dump him on an island, with only his trusty bow and arrow for survival and his smelly festering foot for company and over the next ten years the poor bloke is slowly driven mad by pain and loneliness. Pretty nasty stuff.

“He hasn’t seen a human for a decade and has fits of horrendous pain where he just wants to die,” says Daniel, “so it’s quite a fun part to do as I get to writhe around covered in treacle and do big emotional speeches.”

Oh and did I mention he has to do all this wearing not very much at all?

“Yes my costume is a pair of boxer shorts and treacle so I have been down the gym a bit,” he confesses.

Things get worse when his former comrades are told that they need the master archer and the bow given to him by Heracles in order to win the war. So they sail back and task young soldier Neo, son of Achilles, with tricking Philoctetes into joining them in battle. So if Neo wants to grow up then he has to get his hands dirty.

Daniel explains: “The idea is that the island is infected with the treacle and as Neo gets more involved and corrupted he gets more dirty and covered in it.

“The whole play revolves around Neo’s crisis of conscience. He knows it’s wrong to lie but if he does they will win the war. So does he lie and become a hero or be honest but not get the glory?”

The Yard Theatre, Unit 2A, Queen’s Yard, Hackney Wick, E9 5EN, until December 23. Details: 07548 156266, theyardtheatre.co.uk