Octagon Theatre, Bolton

4/5

Some things never change. With all the palaver in the media about women’s sexuality in Fifty Shades of Grey, it’s worth remembering that there was a huge storm in the press over the “loose morals” of the female protagonist in Stanley Houghton’s Hindle Wakes when it was first performed in 1912.

But there the similarity ends. While Fifty Shades is vacuous and shallow, Houghton’s work is intelligent, funny and beautifully written.

It is not surprising that the play caused such a stir when it opened in London. It was the first time on the capital’s stage that actors spoke with broad colloquial accents.

If that wasn’t shocking enough, the play poked fun at Britain’s class system and — horror of horrors — at its heart the heroine is a working-class woman who is prepared to enjoy life, including sex, without the constraints of society’s stifling morals or marriage.

Director David Thacker has created a loving homage to Houghton with this splendid revival of the play.

On the surface it has the feel of a period drawing room drama but the fine direction and excellent cast make this a much more profound work.

Houghton skilfully opens up the hypocrisy of the new ruling class, where wealth equals power. Yet the play’s most powerful impact is in its exposé of women’s subjugation in society.

The theme of women’s liberation, where a woman could control her own life including her body, was revolutionary years before women got the vote. That the message is delivered with such subtlety and humour is a testament to Houghton’s skill as a playwright.

Natasha Davidson is excellent as the independent-minded Fanny, determined to live her life her way.

Her cool and somewhat understated performance brings out the deep inner strength of her character.

Both James Quinn as Cotton Baron, Nathaniel Jeffcote and Tristan Brooke as his son Alan are wonderful as the bemused men dumbfounded by Fanny’s flagrant disregard for a man’s position in society.

Houghton died within 18 months of the opening of Hindle Wakes at the age of 32.

His death was a great loss to British theatre and this production is a fine tribute to his work.

Runs until March 21, box office: octagonbolton.co.uk