The 39 Steps is a thrilling ride following Richard Hanney (Tim Younger) as he is thrown head first into a world of international espionage, which he deals with in a most upright, British manner. Using information given by Anabelle Schmidt (Bayley Eyley) he begins to track a devilish plot to its source in Scotland, while also on the run from both the police and mysterious agents who are trying to foil his endeavours.

The small cast heroically played a whole host of eclectic characters including four sheep; three pigs; two bumbling detectives; and a suspicious English professor, who has taken up residence in a large house in the Highlands. Initially calm and hospitable, Peter Sheward skilfully reveals the professor's true character, showing a full range of emotion in the process. Along with Helen Kavanagh, they perform a variety of comedic roles with abrupt character switches and costume changes, which are all well managed and hilarious to watch. This, along with a selection of imaginative props, is what makes this production both amusing and compelling, even to one unfamiliar with the plot or the original film.

In a re-working of John Buchan's much loved page-turner, OneEleven Theatre have brought us an affectionate tribute to both the great British adventure story, and the rugged heroics of the classic era of cinema. But this time the Boys' Own adventure is re-discovered as the farce that had always been struggling to get out. With a headlong rush of costume changes, accent changes and improvisational brio four actors charge their way across the stage, one minute in perilous pursuit along the top of a train, the next becalmed in the depths of rural Scotland.

As the play progresses, the quick-fire comedy accelerates, epitomised by a scene where the play's comedy duo double up as the peculiar proprietors of a remote hotel and the heavies in hot pursuit of our hero – keep an eye on the alternation of tartan and gabardine. Watch out too for some hilariously innovative costume/props: the bi-plane, the sheep... What a pleasure this was on a grey Tuesday night – strongly recommended that you come up with an excuse to cut the office Christmas party and head down to the Mathematics Institute while you can.