Imagine ’28 Days Later’ mashed up with ‘Blackadder II’ and you’re somewhere near grasping Naomi Wallace’s award-laden 1996 study in claustrophobia.

The Snellgraves (Dan Maxwell and Kate Abraham) are only hours away from ending their plague quarantine when they find themselves invaded by the unlikely pairing of earthy seaman Bunce (Iain Gain) and twelve year-old orphan Morse (Victoria Bavister). Rumbled by lascivious watchman Kabe (Chris Donnelly) – their only contact with the outside – their well-appointed house must become an enforced sickbay for another month – and possibly their tomb.

Wallace’s text never drops a gear below intense and is well-served by a director and ensemble at the peak of their powers. Gain, Maxwell and Abraham adeptly make up a highly-watchable love triangle, touching and brutal by turns, and if their power games edge towards predictability by the end, it is more than compensated for by Bavister’s excellent Morse, who dances beguilingly on a knife-edge between feral cunning and juvenile helplessness. Donnelly quite simply has a blast as their unofficial jailer – as comic and grotesque as you’d expect for someone who stares into Hell every day. Sue Colverd directs with an assured touch and gets the very best from her cast. A word should also go to the splendid costumes by Corinne Hockley and elegant visuals by Davy Mc Guire, even if the latter do feel under-used.

This revival is a show of quality and depth, fascinating and repellant in picking over the sores of one of London’s darkest hours.

Dominic di Nezza

Remotegoat

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