Pinter's play is deeply unpleasant -but this revival is terrific

THIS is an impeccable production of an important, deeply unpleasant play.

- Nick Curtis

Harold Pinter's heightened domestic drama from 1964, in which an academic finally introduces his wife to the brutish all-male north London home he escaped, juxtaposes comedy and threat.

Matthew Dunster's production operates a notch above naturalism until the latent violence and misogyny of the script erupt in spotlit bursts, accompanied by percussive jazz. It's a gripping watch but a hard one, even though Dunster gives the female character Ruth (Lisa Diveney) more agency than usual.

The household here is recognisable today but defined by violence.