Tipping The Velvet @ The Lyceum, Edinburgh, 7 Nov

Sarah Waters’ debut novel is so strongly characterised by the unique voice and experiences of heroine Nancy Astley that adapting it for the stage seems a tall order. For the first few scenes of Lyndsay Turner’s production, some decisions feel a little shaky. Why, for example, is this positive female story narrated, not by Nancy herself, but by the male Chairman? These worries were not only answered, but blown out of the water by the rest of the production. 

The production moves at breakneck speed through the story, which means it must lose some of the nuance of the book, but what it gains in performance truly encapsulates the music hall setting in which this story begins, and the music hall of everyday life. 

The ensemble cast work seamlessly together, shifting between characters, locations and even styles of performance. With aerial sex scenes and modern music weaved through the Victorian tale which ends at a socialist rally, it raises interesting questions about how much or how little society has changed. 

At the centre of all of this, actress Sally Messham glues the production together with a varied performance that builds throughout. Her chemistry with Laura Rogers as Kitty Bennett, Nancy’s first love and gateway into the rest of her life, is palpable whenever the two are onstage together. 

Blending pure entertainment with a socially conscious backdrop and powerful feminist message, this play is surely one that will take the stage again. We’ll just have to ask The Chairman.