RC Sherriff's drama, based on his experiences in the Great War, was the surprise West End hit of 2004. Now returned and re-cast, this well-made, old-fashioned study of soldiers keeping their lips stiff amid appalling conditions and the near certainty of death has lost little of its emotional power.

In a muddy dugout 50 yards from the German lines we watch a group of officers cope as best they can. The brilliant but unstable young CO Stanhope relies on whisky and the support of the older, steadier Osborne. The petrified Hibbert feigns illness. New boy Raleigh, just 18, brings the same enthusiasm to the forthcoming, hopeless battle as he does to his hero-worship of his old schoolfriend Stanhope.

Director David Grindley brings out with great clarity the way relationships are frayed by behaviour as much as by rank, class and the awful silence before the guns start up.

Michael Sibbery plays Osborne with tremendous dignity and emotional weight. Tom Payne is perfectly cast as Raleigh. He, and Ben Righton in the tougher role of Stanhope, are remarkable given that both actors are making their professional debuts.

Evening Standard - Nick Curtis

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