"Come To Daddy" by Living House Theatre.
Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside.

This is theatre with a difference. It is powerful. It is emotive. It is theatre with a message. It may not be for everyone, but which theatre production is?

It looks back over the 20th Century at some the high, and low points of the last 100 years or so, as of you were flicking through the pages of a massive history book. Tied in with these major historical events, they include pinnacle points in everyone's life. Their first kiss and the journey from this stage through family and ultimately, death.

It also looks at all the "daddies" of the world that have shaped history through the decades.

It'a a lot to cram in, in just less than two hours but it makes for a fascinating, and at times quite alarming piece of theatre.

I loved how from the first scene to the last, we come full circle, just like life, but it's what happens in that time that you have between the first and last scenes of our lives, and how they have been reflected time and time again over the history of time, that makes this history lesson so intoxicating.

The cast is large and each play major parts in the story we see. There are several costume changes and in some scenes nudity, but this is not for titillation as the clever lighting reveals nothing more than what the story tells. the choreography of this and the lighting is excellent.

The costumes and props were clever and well used and the research for the information thread must have taken many hours of investigation.

I loved the vision of The Last Supper and also the scene with the tablets and phones which made a beautifully lit piece where there were messages from the unborn baby to it's parents.This has really been thought out incredibly well, and to say that this theatre company are of tender years, their intelligent writing and presentation belies their youth.

I mentioned that part of the play was quite alarming, and this was supposed to evoke that reaction. There is nothing more alarming and upsetting than death and the scene depicting this was, for me at least, quite a shock in how it was done. It could be because I was not expecting the way it was done. then again death is quite often unexpected, which is why it causes so much grief.

I have only one negative and that is to do with the signs that the cast were carrying and holding up. Sitting where I was sat, I had to really peer to read the signs, so possibly making the writing bolder would help. Maybe I just need stronger glasses, I am getting on a bit now!

It is a piece of theatre that will slap you in the face and then kiss you better, and then send you off with a pat on your head to discuss what you have seen.

Whether you enjoy this piece of new theatre or not, I don't think that matters as much as leaving the theatre with talking points, and believe me, this is one thing that can be guaranteed.

"Come To Daddy" is at Lakeside, Nottingham until Wednesday 17 April.