LIVERPOOL

Roald Dahl's Twisted Tales have arrived at Liverpool's Playhouse, Roald Dahl’s renowned short stories for adults are brought to the stage for the first time by The League of Gentlemen’s Jeremy Dyson. We sent along our reviewer Saira Kewley to follow the twists and turns...

The 90 minute play is a mix of five unexpected tales adapted to the stage by Jeremy Dyson who co-wrote Ghost Stories, a former Everyman production now enjoying an extended run in London's West End.

The tales flow well individually but did not seem to make much sense as a collective. I did however see Dahl's focus on human cruelty and revenge is the link between all five.

One story was particularly cruel, a young boy is made into prefect Galloping Foxley's personal stress ball, any time that Foxley decides that the Fag (as he was called) has done wrong. To top this Foxley puts together a list for him to read whilst the beatings are carried out! The “twist” is seriously unexpected and will make you gasp and giggle in equal measure.

The set itself was great. There were two circles in the middle of the stage. On stood still and the other rotated. This was a great tool for the cast and made it easy for them to enter and leave the stage. The props used were really simple and elegant, for example the plush covers on the train seats, their bold red colouring really stood out against its golden lining, they really did look worthy of being in a first class carriage.

The costumes carried an early 1900's style. Lots of long skirts and well fitted suites. In particular, the mink coat that the dentists wife Mrs Bixby, receives looks very expensive and adds to the audiences horror of her later misfortune.

With five different tales the audience is always captivated with the story to ensure that they are able to make sense of each part. With the individual performances being so short it is a bit intense, but this a great play that will have you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next.

Twisted Tales is running at the Playhouse until the 23rd April, check the site for further info.