RELATIONSHIPS, terrorism and fame are all explored in National Hero.

Timothy West plays Gregor, a retired bomb expert who is visited by documentary maker Alastair.

As Gregor awaits a call to a bomb crisis, it emerges he had an affair with Alastair's wife, Mima, and an emotional bomb begins ticking.

Timothy West gives a fine performance as Gregor, who cannot face leaving front line bomb disposal - the only thing that gives him a thrill. Nicola McAuliffe raised many a laugh playing his wife Ann, who resents the time he has devoted to the job. Tom Cotcher, as the drunken television newsman, and Carolyn Backhouse as Mima were also strong, both actors capturing their characters' emotions to perfection.

Setting much of the play in a luxurious sitting room was not very effective.

But when the scene moved from Gregor's home to his hospital bedside, after he was injured in a blast, it suddenly became more realistic and interesting.

National Hero runs until tomorrow (Saturday).

Jo Lafferty