Alys, Always: A superbly disquieting psychological thriller

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As Frances becomes more involved with Polly, her boss at the `Questioner', impressed by Frances's friendship with the Kytes, puts some of the more prestigious assignments her way. Her work in London includes The Family Reunion, The Cherry Orchard, Breaking the Code and A Voyage Round My Father (from the Donmar) in the West End; Stages and Absolute Hell at the National Theatre; Ring Round the Moon at the Playhouse; Hobson’s Choice at Regent’s Park; and Home Chat at the Finborough. Whether that's putting new work on stages across the world or supporting our outreach and learning programmes, every purchase you make really does make a difference. Yet Frances should always remain just out of reach, left forever spinning somewhere between our sympathy and fear, and Coxon does her no favours by narrowing her character down excessively in a too-long second half that tends towards over-explanation.

Frances is a thirty-something sub-editor, an invisible production, drone on the books pages of the Questioner. Dance includes Ballet Spiegelungen Verweile Doch (world premiere) for Saarländisches Staatstheater; In Absentia at Sadler’s Wells; Sun for Hofesh Schechter Company at Sadler’s Wells and international tours; and Just for Show for DV8 at the National Theatre and international tours. This novel came with brilliant reviews but though I enjoyed it, I felt somewhat cheated because it could have been so much better.You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. One night driving home, she is the first on the scene of an accident and last to speak to the victim, a woman, "Alice", who then dies. Both clever satire on the (north) London literary scene and compelling thriller worthy of Patricia Highsmith, [ Alys, Always ] is unshowy and modest. But the trope of the plucky female upstart who rises to become the power behind the throne is no less cliché.

Theatre includes, at The Bridge, A Christmas Carol, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Two Ladies, Alys, Always and Young Marx. However, underneath, Frances is not resigned or content and is just patiently waiting for the opportunity to change her life to present itself. Brilliantly crafted and sharply observed, this first novel with its sense of unease and apprehension holds your attention from the beginning to the end. It’s never particularly obvious what she actually wants; but probably she doesn’t know herself, her entire journey a sort of listless poking at her own spiritual void. Theatre includes The Tempest, Cymbeline and The White Devil at Shakespeare’s Globe; and Queen Anne for the RSC in the West End.Harriet Lane's exceptional first novel matches the twisted motivations of Sophie Hannah to the social satire of Amanda Craig's A Vicious Circle .

She’s quiet and capable, but nobody takes much notice: her face is pressed to the window, on the outside looking in. Great things were expected for this theatre, founded by Nick Hytner and Nick Starr after they departed from the National Theatre, which they had turned into the single most exciting theatrical address in London.

So this is a kind of belated coming of age story as Frances, an invisible ugly duckling turns into a highly visible swan. Like a figure in some Hitchcock film, she starts to imitate Aly's identity, dressing like her, cooking her recipes and changing her hair and make-up.

Frances is a fascinating creation: determined, deceitful, intriguingly complex and believably drawn .With either her job or one other on the line, she starts to make sure it’s cocksure Oliver (an entertainingly oblivious Simon Manyonda,) coasting on his famous journalist father’s reputation rather than doing any work, who gets the chop. Please note that this performance includes the use of haze, herbal cigarettes, vaping devices and contains strong language. Are her actions motivated by ruthless ambition or is she just doing what anyone might do to help a grieving family? When a unique opportunity presents itself, Frances hitches her wagon to a star and works it with zeal.