IDEARLY wish I knew sign language. There was a signed performance of this Tamasha and Harrogate Theatre production on Wednesday and those following the signer probably made more sense of the drama than the rest of us.

A combination of poor projection, audience-alienating direction and the difficulty of tuning in to the Indian accents rendered much of the dialogue incomprehensible. I wasn’t the only one who thought this. A lady sitting in the stalls confirmed a problem there, as well as in the circle.

The set depicts a confined house in Pakistan’s Punjab region, where a domineering mother plays tyrant over five unmarried daughters. She is a deeply unpleasant woman, even if her motives are honourable, and her daughters show little opposition to what amounts to imprisonment.

The play has been adapted by Sudha Bhuchar from Lorca’s The House Of Bernarda Alba, but having half the dialogue inaudible is a big barrier to overcome.

Director Kristine Landon- Smith shows little regard for drawing her audience into the action by her use of Sue Mayes’ set. It looks quite beautiful and Natasha Chivers’ lighting is used to good effect.

But playing the opening scene with one character at the back of the stage behind a wall puts too much distance between actor and audience.

Then to stage the climax with most of the cast behind the wall, visible occasionally through three windows, compounds the offence.

The director seems more interested in creating striking tableaux of characters – in which she succeeds – at the expense of the audience.

All of which makes assessing the play difficult when, in effect, you’re guessing what’s happening.

■ Until tomorrow. Tickets 01423-502116 and online harrogatetheatre.co.uk Steve Pratt