TAKE three men – an Englishman, and Irishman and an American – and lock them in a cell in Beirut together.

No, not a cell, insists Michael, the English professor from Peterborough who frets constantly about his elderly mother at home: never a cell, just a room.

It is a room somewhere in that war-torn Lebanese city where he, Edward the journalist from Dublin and Adam a doctor from California are chained to the floor nevertheless.

Their aim is to stay sane, to stay healthy, to stay alive. Edward and Adam have already forged an agreement over the months they have been imprisoned together since being taken captive that pushing each other to the boundaries will keep them sane. When Michael arrives they know he too must accept conflict if he is to survive. But he is older and more fragile than the two younger men, or so it appears.

Frank McGuinness’s new work is set in the Beirut of the 80s and draws on the experiences of several captives who were later released.

It explores the human mind when it is caged and asks the question at what point any of us would break, deny our faith or find another.

Powerfully directed by Michael Attenborough, this Chichester Festival debut for the work pummels the emotions.

Daily Echo:

Michael is played by the superb David Haig, his comic timing essential for moments of sheer relief during what might otherwise be a journey through despair and ruined hope.

Rory Keenan plays Edward whose aggression acts as a wall to keep in the loathing he feels growing for the way he has abandoned his young family.

Adam Rayner is Michael, raging also against his lost family: the childhood he believes his parents stole from him, the siblings he failed to love.

A superb work which had its first night audience on the edge of their seats, wiping away tears of laughter and empathy.

Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me runs until October 10.