There's still time to see the excellent Harrogate Dramatic Society in Alan Ayckbourn's Improbable Fiction at town's main theatre

The play, which tells the tale of the meeting of an amateur writer’s group over the course of a stormy Winter’s evening, is one of contrasts, an eclectic bunch of well observed characters, and a well-paced story that slides from humdrum human worries and thwarted creative ambitions into unabashed farce.

An accomplished cast shines in a play that, thanks to Ayckbourne’s inventive and slightly unusual storytelling, gives almost all of them the opportunity to show off their impressive versatility.

Lucy Gladwell delivers a well-rounded performance as gritty and pragmatic frustrated romance writer Jess early in the play, before transforming into a prim and proper Victorian Governess via some neat touches of physical comedy in fleeting cameo roles later in proceedings.

The character of Jess is balanced out by downtrodden and bashful would-be children’s author Grace. This role sees a sympathetic and nicely understated performance from Melanie James, who also gets to show off her range with a highly entertaining appearance as a secret agent later on.

Jess and Grace’s differing personalities (and performances) provide one of the group’s main sources of simmering conflict, as does Chris Rawson’s caustic and curmudgeonly retired school teacher Brevis.

Rawson’s deadpan delivery of some of the play’s funniest lines, coupled with some impressive verbal dexterity in his own appearance as a secret agent, are all the more impressive considering he was a very late addition to the cast due to illness.

Richard Blackburn and Simone Fry put in lively and engaging performances as conspiracy loving Sci-Fi writer Clem and delightfully intense Thriller writer Vivi, respectively.

Blackburn also demonstrates his own comedy prowess with over-the-top appearances as a lisping Victorian Fop. Writer’s group chairman Arnold provides the warm-hearted and increasingly bewildered centre point to the play’s eccentric personalities and suitably improbable events in a likeable performance from Colin Smith. The cast is completed by an accomplished performance from Laura Sandiford as Carer Ilsa and a lovelorn servant.

Director Tony Fennerty and his team have met the challenge of a physically and technically complex production, with the various Sliding Doors moments of rapid entrances and exits and the effects of the thunderstorm pulled off with aplomb. The set design is once again of a high standard courtesy of John Branton and Malcolm Wright and enhances the action well.

Harrogate Dramatic Society’s production of Improbable Fiction is a surreal, light-hearted romp that plays amusingly with literary tropes and pokes fun at the frustrated writer in all of us.

The strength and versatility of the individual performances weave together to great the impression of a cast much larger than it actually is. At its heart, Improbable Fiction’= is a play about escapism, as characters escape their everyday frustrations into a world that’s infinitely sillier and more fun.

This sense of escapism is only heightened by the quality of the performances from all involved, and, let’s be honest, who doesn’t need a little escapism and fun at present.

Improbable Fiction is on at Harrogate Theatre on Saturday October 22 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Tickets: 01423 502116 or online at https://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/events/improbable-fiction/