Bench Theatre presents The 39 Steps, adapted for the stage by Patrick Barlow as a playful parody of the classic Hitchcock film. The 39 Steps is a breathless, brilliantly bonkers theatrical romp where espionage, mistaken identity and high-speed adventure collide.

One innocent man. A shadowy organisation. A mystery that hurtles from a London music hall to the Scottish Highlands at breakneck pace. Add a small number of fearless actors, a dizzying array of characters, lightning-fast costume changes and gloriously inventive staging, and you have a thriller that refuses to take itself seriously.

Part Hitchcock homage, part juicy spy novel, part Monty Python-style farce plus a dash of good old-fashioned romance, The39 Steps is packed with physical comedy, theatrical trickery and knowing nods to classic cinema. It’s slick, silly, suspenseful – and an absolute joy to watch.

First performed at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2005, the production transferred to the West End, where it won an Olivier Award in 2007, before heading to Broadway and winning two Tony Awards in 2008.

Patrick Barlow’s four-person adaptation, featuring over 150 characters, has since played in over forty countries worldwide, winning multiple international awards.

Fasten your seatbelts. Blink and you’ll miss it.