THIS is the UK premiere of the awardwinning play Nordost, written by German playwright Torsten Buchsteiner in 2005, now translated into 14 languages and staged in 16 European countries.

Based on the true story of how Chechan militants took over a Russian theatre one evening in 2002 and held the audience captive for days, this is a chilling and memorable piece of work.

Olga is a contented mother, taking her husband and young daughter to the theatre to enjoy the musical Nord-Ost.

Tamara is a doctor, working night shift while her mother and daughter enjoy the show.

Zura is a Chechan widow with explosives strapped to her body, intending to take hostages from the theatre audience for her cause. The compelling story is told from their three different perspectives.

Playing the main characters, Nia Davies, Emily Bowker and Ellie Turner are utterly mesmeric, supported by six promising young actors from Salisbury’s youth theatre Stage ’65.

The set is brilliantly effective, giving a monochrome tight focus.

Lighting and sound is dramatic and effective.

This is a harrowing and deeply thought-provoking play, examining the eternal dichotomy of how “freedom fighters” become “terrorists”.

Watching it so soon after the Boston Marathon atrocities gave the piece a chillingly contemporary realistic resonance. Running for an hour and forty minutes, this is an absorbing piece.

Nordost runs until April 27.