Rebecca at the Oxford Playhouse

These days there are so many great touring theatre companies, and many of these visit the Oxford Playhouse. Headlong (The Absence of War, 1984, The Seagull) English Touring Theatre (Brave New World, Tonight at 8.30), Ghosts, Twelth Night, Arcadia, The Real Thing), Out of Joint (Jane Wenham) Shared Experience (Bronte) Cheek by Jowl ('Tis 'Pity She's a Whore) Paines Plough (The Angry Brigade) Stephen Joseph Theatre (Life of Riley, Surprises) as well as Regional Theatres that tour: Theatre Royal, Bath (Abigail's Party), Theatre Royal, Brighton (Blue/Orange) Rose Theatre, Kingston (Loves Labours Lost, A Midsummer Night's Dream).

Then last night it was the turn of Kneehigh Theatre to bring us Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca. Emma Rice is the Jojnt Artistic Director of Kneehigh (she becomes Artistic Director of The Globe next year - watch out Globe audiences) and has adapted and directed this classic story. And what an amazing theatrical experience she has created. This is what modern theatre is all about, it really engages with the audience. So we have sea shanties (the setting of Cornwall for the book and the home of Kneehigh is important here), we have comic songs, comic dances and a set to die for. Most of the audience will know the plot, so the combination of melodrama and humour works really well.

Then we have the tiny Katy Owen in the supporting role of servant Ben. I think the director must have seen how the old and doddery Alfie stole the show in One Man Two Guvnors and wrote his direct opposite. To steal the show again. Imogen Sage as the new Mrs de Winter is another star in the making, where do all these brilliant new actresses come from? The rest of the cast is good but it is the the exceptionally clever presentation that makes this such a wonderful evening.