An ageing playwright suffering from writer’s block, his anxious wife whose money he is living off and an excellent set displaying all the clues including a plethora of weapons on the walls, Houdini’s handcuffs, a roaring open fire and a huge rug – nonetheless left us totally unprepared for all the twists and turns in Ira Levin’s play within a play, Deathtrap.

Unafraid of a challenge, this gem brought to the stage by a small Newport Playgoers cast of five certainly ticked all the boxes and in the capable hands of director Claudia Barnes assisted by Eileen Symonds the production oozed deceit, suspense and humour.

Heavily dependent on the chemistry between characters, the common link between them all, Sidney Bruhl was played with class by Christopher Bissex Williams, achieving just the right amount of menace and sophistication in a polished performance.

Clare Drewett, as his wife Myra channelled his class and conveyed extra vulnerability, her anxiety becoming more palpable the more that she was verbally toyed with.

James Symonds was both personable and credible as budding writer Clifford Anderson, while all the humour came from Emma Brunnock who proved a tour de force as psychic Helga Ten Dorp.

It was left to the remaining character, Jerry Grummitt as suave attorney Porter Milgrim, to tie-up the plot (albeit with a final twist).

Tense, entertaining and humorous, you have until Saturday to catch up with it.