Newport Playgoers Society launched their first production of the season, with another first, when local author and long-time member of the society, Phil Mansell premiered his first full length play, According to Claudia.

Having recently secured a publishing deal whereby his plays will be promoted worldwide, where better to start than at Newport’s, Dolman Theatre.

A full auditorium paid full respect to a play that proved insightful, touching, heart-warming and at times full of humour.

A family celebration was the platform used to bring together three sisters, two partners and an elderly father and aunt.

In the capable hands of director, Caroline Drewett-Mansell, an exceptional cast exploited the resulting themes of intolerance, misunderstanding, hurt and jealousy, to the full.

Angharad Jones gave full credibility to an outwardly confident but emotionally frail Claudia, whilst her character was perfectly off-set by the demurity and patience shown by Karen Davies, in the role of her home-maker, sister, Belle.

Sue Morgan, as Aunt Charlotte and Chris Bissex-Williams, as father of the girls and retired Oxford don, Michael, hit just the right notes of eccentricity versus unerring self-opinionation.

It was left to the three remaining characters, Bob Brown as David along with Eloise Rossiter and Paul Howells as youngest daughter, Lucy and husband Micky, to bring the outside world, and a different set of values, in.

Compulsive viewing, you have until Saturday to go along and find out which least likely character proves the saviour of the family.