Ibsen’s classic – in a version put together by director Alexander Curtis, using several translations – loses none of its energy and force in this brisk and lively production.

Norah Helmer (Lucy Hughes), the mother of three children, is treated like an adorable child by her loving, sometimes overbearing husband Torvald (Oliver Bray), who doesn't realise that she has committed forgery to raise the money that's helped to restore his health and attain his new position as bank manager.

Now she must face the threat of blackmail and her own and her husband's disgrace.

Hughes gives a compelling, thrilling performance – a nervy woman under terrible pressure who will play the doll’s role her husband expects as long as she believes in him.

Fine support comes from Catherine Tarrant as Norah’s older, more worldly wise friend Christine, James Forster as the desperate blackmailer and Joseph Curran as ‘family friend’ Dr Rank, whose own situation is even more tragic.

Ham Quentin