ROUNDELAY, a selection of one-act plays that slot together like a puzzle, arrived at the Theatre Royal in Bath on its first UK tour.

Following the national and international success of the Ayckbourn Ensemble, the Stephen Joseph Theatre Company returns to Bath with Alan Ayckbourn’s brand new play ROUNDELAY appearing at the Theatre Royal from Monday, February 2 to Saturday. February 7.

Ayckbourn’s 78th work to be taken to the stage, Roundelay is a total of five interconnected vignettes, of which four are selected at random by the audience pre-show.

Written to be played in any order, each viewing may offer an entirely different theatrical experience, as information about a particular character taken from one scene informs our understanding of the next.

The cast, therefore, could be playing the story in a possible 120 possible orders.

This element of the random didn’t seem to hinder the performances in any way, however, and the entire cast did a good job of bringing to life Ayckbourn’s unique blend of tragedy and comedy.

Most interesting about the play is how it weaves through different characters with such fluidity – from prostitutes to judges, vicars to priests, and aspiring actresses to politicians.

The world within which Ayckbourn operates tends to root for the underdog in the stories.

The politician, for example, which in my production was the final scene, sees a young actress make a fool of a two-faced MP.

All in all, this is a captivating work, well cast, and with characters that leave you hanging on every word.

The script is at times funny, often thought provoking, and always has you backtracking and making connections, pulling the pieces together to gather a fuller picture.

But you’ll have to see it for yourself… and when you do, it may be an entirely different play.

ROUNDELAY appears at the Theatre Royal Bath now until Saturday, February 7. Tickets are available from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 01225 448844 or from www.theatreroyal.org.uk