I WAS fully expecting JB Priestley’s play about the sins of a wealthy family to look distinctly creaky.

But in the hands of Dramatic Productions, it fairly crackled.

Christopher Mellows was the detective who interrupts an party in the home of the Birling clan to announce the suicide of a young woman.

Directors Judy Norman and Mary Waterhouse subtly updated the setting (Priestley put it in 1912), but the play’s combination of anger and humanity gives the text an enduring relevance – and this company brought the dialogue to vibrant life.

Leading an excellent cast, Mr Mellows manouevred skilfully, Frank Holden managed to make the pompous head of the house a human being, while Tara Howard and Joe Dale were each compelling. In the intimate setting of the Studio, it was one of those rare productions where the audience’s attention didn’t wander for a moment.