ADAPTED from the novel by Daphne Du Maurier, Kneehigh Theatre brings to this dark depiction of envy (there's a subtitle of A Study in Jealousy to get you in the mood), about a young woman (Imogen Sage) who doesn’t actually have a name in the story. She marries Manderly's master Maxim de Winter (Tristan Sturrock), who is haunted by his dead wife’s past.

The adaptation retains the famous first line of the novel, “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderly again”, which is followed by sinister stringed music as a boat lowers from the ceiling with Rebecca’s body underneath. This sets the brooding premise for the show as Rebecca’s body spookily remains under the boat for the whole duration.

The stage design is phenomenal. It really captures the haunting element of the play as well as the more light tones that Emma Rice, the director, has incorporated into it. The comedic snippets weren’t exactly to my taste. With a true thriller I would have preferred it to stick to its doom-laden roots. That being said, the audience responded marvellously to the comedy and laughed in all the right places. The incorporation of a musical touch to the play also went down well. Live music and singing kept us moored to the Cornish coast.

Rice also incorporated parts of Alfred Hitchcock's famous 1940 film (notably using the likeness of the character Mrs Danvers, played by Emily Raymond). The updated feel of the production was fascinating and, for the most part, certainly paid off.

Rebecca runs until Saturday. Box Office: 08448-112121 or theatreroyal.co.uk