Review Abandonment by Kate Atkinson Hexagon Theatre Company The Space IT WASN’T until I tried to open and then eat a packet of Maltesers while watching Hexagon's production of Abandonment that I realised just how loud they are.

They’re way too rustley and crunchy.

Abandonment was written by Kate Atkinson, of Behind the Scenes at the Museum fame.

One of the themes of the play is identity and how it can be difficult to form a sense of self if you have no knowledge of your genetic heritage. The central character is Elizabeth, who was abandoned as a baby in a gents' loo.

I really like Atkinson’s determination to present people as essentially dysfunctional beings, big melting pots of awful, fantastic and mundane experiences, all filtering and interpreting that information in different ways.

What a great play for Hexagon to get their teeth into, with lots of tense moments, flaring tempers and sulky pursed lips.

A bookish sitting room was the set throughout, with Liz Chance as the ghostly wronged governess, gliding periodically across the stage, deep in distracted anguish. Janet Bridge as the mother was a tower of false cheer, all the while leaking bitter judgemental remarks and clutching her outsize Les Dawson handbag.

And Adam Horovitz was so good as sleazy lawyer Merric Chalmers that I think he should take up being a dodgy Victorian husband full time.