Michael Frayn

NOISES OFF

A touring theatre company is ready for the dress rehearsal – at least that's what they thought. Props change like smuggled goods, affairs fall apart, lines get mixed up, and the backstage turns into a lavatory of emotional eruptions…

There's no time, allegiances shift, and the farce – so utterly dependent on control – collapses before the eyes of its creators. And in the midst of it all, some are waging war with sardines and making their presence felt by slamming doors like prima donnas. This is not merely a comedy. It is a slow-motion train wreck – loud, chaotic, and absolutely impossible to look away from.

"Noises Off", a canonical theatrical piece, explores "theatre through theatre": the stage illusion must remain intact – it has to be not just played, but survived and ultimately, totally vandalised.

• 12+