JOHN Piemeier’s 1979 play is a gripping drama, in which psychiatrist Dr Martha Livingstone (Emma Portlock) comes to a convent to investigate how a young nun, Agnes (Jennifer Hampton) gave birth and how the baby died. She also has to come to terms with Mother Miriam Ruth (Merial Shepherd), who has her own version of the truth.

It’s an emotive subject; the play pulls no punches and, as director Bob Blake notes “Makes its audience think, doubt and rethink”. It also provides excellent roles for its outstanding cast.

Hampton – the picture of a damaged innocent, with a fine singing voice to boot, Shepherd – evasive but clinging to her own vision, Portlock – with her outsider’s perspective but absorbed by this alien world.

Such is this drama’s power I sometimes felt it deserved the main stage, though the set, by Terry Gray, Dave Francis and John Whitham is effective enough, and we are promised another Pielmeier play, The Shell Seekers, later this year.