The Minerva Studio takes you back to the past in a new play by Christopher William Hill.

Song Of The Western Men is set in 1939 on St Martin's, one of the Isles of Scilly, where a new postmaster has taken over following the death of his predecessor.

The reluctant inheritor is Vic Oliver (Ian Brimble), the late postmaster's son-in-law, and his takeover coincides with a visit from a mainland Post Office inspector bringing a new telegraph machine.

Told with humour and a fine degree of pathos, Hill's tragi-comedy is a hit on many levels.

The early scenes are full of black comedy - the funeral scene in particular. But Hill also takes a close look at the effects of living on an isolated island which most of the inhabitants have never left.

He is also good at depicting the resistance to change on the eve of war.

Peter Baldwin, Coronation Street's drippy Derek Wilton, is the vicar, slightly on the political right but doing his best to keep his parishioners on the straight and narrow - although unable to avoid them cashing in on a shipwrecked cargo ship. It is a well-handled role.

But the key character is Vic. We slowly learn why he is so resistant to the new telegraph machine and his madness is shocking.

This ensemble cast take their roles well. Tommy Trennear (Stuart Fox) is the island's cynic and plays the role well and Samantha Robinson handles young Morwenna May with verve and charm - you can feel her rising womanhood.

I have never been to the Isles of Scilly so I cannot vouch for the accents - Cornish mixed with something of an Irish brogue - but they are consistent throughout.

The story unfolds episodically which means a lot of distracting scene changes but this is one of the best plays I've seen at the Minerva in a long while.

It is full of charm, the writing is excellent and the playing is impeccable. Do go to see it.

Tickets: 01243 781312.