LOVE, passion and nudity are on the menu at the Playhouse this week as DH Lawrence’s famously controversial book is brought to the stage.

Lady Chatterley’s Lover was written in 1928 and banned in Britain for the next 30 years. But it’s not all about sex.

‘Tenderness’ was the original title for the book, which I think suits this play better and would perhaps have made the book a lot less contentious.

Constance Chatterley becomes a carer to her husband after he was paralyzed during the First World War. She starts to feel desperately lonely, unhappy and trapped in the marriage, longing for a love and tenderness that her husband cannot provide.

She finds the passion, love and sexual freedom that she is craving with gamekeeper Mellors. And with this freedom she finds herself again.

Director Phillip Breen projects Constance’s emotional journey through the changing of the seasons.

The predominantly short scenes are intermingled by the turning on and off of stage lights.

Flowers laid on stage and birdsong audio create a romantic ambience for the outdoor liaisons between Constance and Mellors.

Throughout the production pianist David Osmond creates the mood with melodic tunes.

The initial nudity prompted a few awkward coughs among the audience, admittedly my friend and I shared a little snigger, but there is nothing pornographic about the scenes. In fact, there is a kind of innocence about it as Constance and Mellors overcome their shyness by running naked in the rain like children.

Eugene O’Hare depicted the frustrations of wheelchair-bound Clifford Chatterley, while Hedydd Dylan’s sensual portrayal of Constance Chatterley is most laudable. Praise also to Jonah Russell as the rugged, yet tender Oliver Mellors and Rachel Sanders as nursemaid Mrs Bolton.

This co-production between Sheffield Theatres and English Touring Theatre continues at Salisbury Playhouse until Saturday, November 12.

By Christine Stock