AN English cottage garden in summer bloom with all its colour and warmth welcomed us into the lives of the Warren's on Tuesday evening.

Written by George Bernard Shaw in 1893 but not performed until 1925 because of its controversial subject matter, Mrs Warren's Profession has been brought to Salisbury Playhouse by The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham.

The production keeps strictly to the script and the time it was written with rich costumes and pithy observations.

Former Only Fools and Horses star Sue Holderness is Mrs Warren and perfect for the role – glamorous, seductive and both heartless and full of heartache.

Her daughter played by Emily Woodward is excellent as the practical, bright and no nonsense Vivie whose relationship with her mother is a fascinating part of the play as they start out effectively being strangers and then have to deal with the ensuing emotions as truth and lies are revealed and the battleground is formed over morality, duty and desire.

On stage, as their relationship disintegrates, colour fades from the set leaving just greys and blacks.

The play was groundbreaking at the time not only for its references to prostitution but for its championing of better opportunities for women and equal rights.

The baronet Sir Crofts (Christopher Timothy), a friend and business partner of Mrs Warren’s in their string of brothels across European cities, speaks of his brother making huge sums of money from a factory with 600 girls in it and ‘not one of them getting wages enough to live on’.

With many light-hearted moments peppered throughout, Mrs Warren’s Profession, directed by Paul Milton, is a pleasure to see in its original form - the hypocrisy and struggles of life highlighted by Bernard Shaw still very much relevant to today.

It is in the Main House at Salisbury Playhouse until tomorrow (Saturday) at 7.30pm. There is a matinee tomorrow at 2.15pm.

For tickets contact the Salisbury Playhouse ticket office on 01722 320333 or visit salisburyplayhouse.com.

Elizabeth Kemble