★★★☆☆ Ruth Rendell’s lauded crime novel has been newly adapted courtesy of Bill Kenwright and directed by Roy Marsden – himself a veteran of appearing in and directing crime procedurals, not least in Cheltenham last year with Rehearsal for Murder. This is very much a successor to the work of the Agatha Christie Theatre Company’s work and will prove very satisfying to fans of police procedurals and crime thrillers.

★★★★☆ This night began as a night at the ballet should, with that rare thing – the sound of a live orchestra tuning-up over expectant audience hubbub. And then suddenly, it was curtain-up into a transformed world of grace, drama and beauty, as music and motion, staging and costume merged into an astonishing and indescribable whole. And who better to produce that alchemy than The Birmingham Royal Ballet accompanied by the RB Sinfonia?