TIME and the Conways is both an exploration of the effects of time and a deeply compelling play about family relationships.

The first and third acts are set just after the end of the First World War as the Conway family celebrate the end of hostilities and Kay Conway's 21st birthday.

Jumping to Kay's 40th birthday, the second act shows how time has changed the Conway family's ideals.

J B Priestly sees time not as a process of decay, but an ongoing cycle of positive and negative experience and conveys this message through the play's characters.

Hannah Young gives an excellent performance as Kay Conway, the aspiring novelist who has a haunting vision of herself at 40 as a London journalist forced to see how her relatives have changed when she returns home to discuss family finance.

Alan Conway comforts his distraught sister with J B Priestly's optimistic theory of time and Jamie Chapman's performance of a wise man thought useless by his family is effective.

Penelope Keith is impressive as the family's silly mother.

Eilidh Macdonald must also be mentioned for her intriguing performance as the youngest Conway daughter Carol.

The contrasts between joy and pain, rich and poor, youth and age are evoked through strong acting by the cast and their bickering, fast-paced dialogue is a joy to hear.

This play is enjoyable and deserves every success when it moves to the West End.

Jo Lafferty