When Toby Jones opens his mouth to speak his first line in this play, the words are as new to him as they are to us.

It's not that he's been incredibly lazy in learning them, he's just never read the play.

In fact, he only met his co-star and the show's creator Tim Crouch for the first time an hour ago.

It's a radical concept and one which could be uncomfortable to watch if Crouch was anything less than radiant with confidence. And tonight he glows.

Toby is prompted to ask questions to establish the foundations of the story.

"I'm a hypnotist" says Crouch in Cooganesque style, pointing to his shiny suit. "They're the audience and we're upstairs in a pub."

"Ask 'Who am I'," instructs Crouch. Toby calmly obeys and so his tragedy unfolds.

He is Andrew Smith, 6ft2in with a bloodshot eye, and three months ago his daughter Claire was run over by a car. Crouch is hypnotist David Knight her killer.

Andrew has been unable to come to terms with her death, believing instead she has transformed into an oak tree. He goes along to Knight's show knowing he is her killer and in search of answers.

When Andrew ends up starring in his show, the result is an emotional blending of what is real and what is not. Crouch reassuringly guides Toby through the story using a script and feeding him lines through an earpiece.

Although his co-star's performance is strictly guided there are charming moments of improvisation such as a piano mime complete with elbow slam and a simple yet moving tree hug.

Despite being told he is naked and covered in his own excrement, Toby resists the urge to overact, instead offering a thoughtful performance which compliments Crouch's masterful style perfectly.

The voice behind Harry Potter's Dobby the house elf, Toby is obviously well-practised in working with masters.

Crouch mischievously plays with theatrical convention, swapping effortlessly between his character and his real self with the flick of his microphone's on/off button.

Halfway through a scripted scene he asks Toby, "So, what do you think of the play?" Toby looks down and reads, "I think it's brilliant."

It gets a little confusing at times but never enough to spoil the brilliance of the piece.

Every night Crouch performs with a new co-star, all as oblivious to the script as the last.

As you walk away you can't help but wonder what the play will be like with a different actor playing Andrew. Someone of a different age, race or sex.

It's almost as though the experience isn't complete until you've seen it twice. Good job it's here until Saturday.

Until Saturday, May 20, call 01273 709709