Harriet Martineau Dreams of Dancing: Live Theatre, Newcastle

I’M rather ashamed of my former ignorance of writer, radical thinker and all-round female pioneer Harriet Martineau. In this, the second play in a trilogy for the Live, writer Shelagh Stephenson has created a work that is meticulously crafted, fascinating and very funny.

Characters wash in and out of invalid Harriet’s boarding house room like waves. An eccentric young widow, Impie Haddock, (Amy McAllister) with a mild seal-painting obsession finds a friend in chaise-ridden Harriet (Lizzy McInnerny). Beulah (Kate Okello), daughter of a now-dead African slave is brought by her Uncle (Deka Walmsley) because she won’t talk. The action increasingly focuses on Beulah's second emancipation from the ugly racism of her relatives and Harriet’s attempts to stop being an invalid. Deka Walmsley manages to walk an impressive tightrope of portraying a bigot while making us laugh simultaneously.

The set designed beautifully by Alison Ashton makes the most of the Live’s cosy stage. The dialogue and the characters all feel modern thanks to the light flourish of director Max Roberts. Harriet’s social standing means that we see some of society’s problems through an affluent, educated prism. But when she fights for the rights of women, she is battling for herself as well.

The music, created by The Unthanks didn’t personally work for me. Some of Lee Proud’s choreography was perfect, especially the triumphant finale homage to clog dancing. I could have handled a touch less arm-flinging in an early sequence. But these are microscopic niggles with a superb piece of theatre.

* Runs until Saturday, December 3. Box Office: 0191-232-1232 or live.org.uk

Sarah Scott