Therese Raquin is at the Theatre Royal Bath until Saturday, August 16
Visit theatreroyal.org.uk or call 01225 448844 to book

THERESE Raquin tells the tale of a young woman, married off to her insipid cousin, Camille, and stifled by a life without passion – until she meets the charming, magnetic Laurent and falls in love.

Before long, the lovers plot to be together and rid themselves of Camille by murdering him.

But all their hopes of a happy life together are dashed as they are tormented by guilt and haunted by Camille, who turns out to be livelier in death than he ever was in life.

Based on the 1867 novel by Emile Zola, this is an absorbing story about the human condition, the temptations of love and character vs fate.

Alison Steadman plays Madame Raquin, mollycoddling mother to Camille and aunt to Therese, who cajoles the cousins into marriage.

Her performance, as you would expect from one of the great stalwarts of British theatre, is exceptional, unifying the whole production.

Therese (Pippa Nixon) also commands the stage brilliantly, especially considering for large parts of the early scenes, she is so engulfed by misery she has little to say.

Unusually, the costume changes all happen on stage as the scene changes take place, adding a balletic beauty to the play and transforming Therese, at points, into a rag doll who is` pulled about by all around her.

Kieran Bew pitches the lovelorn, murderous Laurent beautifully and Hugh Skinner, as the pallid, self-obsessed Camille, is in life exquisitely repulsive and in death chillingly menacing.

The cast of motley dominoes players who visit the Raquin household weekly provide a delightful touch of humour to the stifling family set-up in which Therese is trapped.

And beware, there are some scary scenes which will make you jump in your seat.

A brilliantly realised, utterly engaging production that’s not to be missed.