HE was a man who made a name for himself by telling other people’s stories. But what of the life of Alfred J Hitchcock, the master of suspense whose twists and turns toyed with so many people’s minds?

Playing up to type, David Rudkin’s The Lovesong Of Alfred J Hitchcock is darker, moodier and more troubled than the title suggests.

The production opens with the image of a 60-year-old Hitchcock sitting in his director’s chair carefully crafting the image of a sole female protagonist.

It sets the tone for what is a dreamlike exploration of one of the most creative and interesting minds of the 21st century.

From his early life in Leytonstone, the script follows the movie-maker’s battle with the demons running through his head and doubters on the street.

Martin Miller is a convincing Hitchcock, as the script explores what really inspired the plots of Psycho, Strangers On A Train and Vertigo.

Perhaps fittingly, it is visually where the production really shines. Against the backdrop of a white television screen, silhouettes and clever lighting combine to produce the finest moment of a play that Hitchcock himself would have been proud to adapt for the big screen.