Close-up on a tragedy.

Byline: Sam Wood ,

A chilling true story of mental disintegration and murder in Jacobean England has arrived at the LBT.

Icabod productions have brought to the Syngenta Cellar the tale of Walter Calverley, a man who lived 400 years ago and murdered two of his own children.

The son of a Catholic at the time of persecutions, Walter is married to a woman he does not love. His high status family have lost their wealth due to Protestant persecution and his children are beggars and thieves.

He turns to gambling and drink and becomes increasingly paranoid.

The play teases out well the stresses of the murderer, played by Jamie Smelt. He has lost his status through no fault of his own and the family name is in ruins at a time when reputation was everything.

But the terrible nature of the crime and the weaknesses of the man prevent you from feeling any real sympathy.

Eventually his despair drives him to commit the most horrific of crimes as he murders his children and attempts to kill his wife (Lisa Druett), before being condemned to death.

The small surroundings of the Syngenta Cellar suit this creepy and violent play and the closeness really makes you feel part of the action. You could almost be sitting in Walter's kitchen as he abuses his wife or plays dice and drinks. A top notch production.

The show runs until Thursday and is not suitable for children under 14.