Ciphers, the Bush Theatre

We are spoilt for choice when it comes to spy stories on film or television, but here is a chance for thriller fans to get their adrenaline hit at the theatre. Ciphers reunites two rising stars - the director Blanche McIntyre and the award-winning playwright Dawn King - whose debut play, Foxfinder, stunned critics.

Michael Billington, the Guardian’s chief theatre critic singled out the unnerving dystopian fable as one of the best new plays of 2011. He is equally impressed by King and McIntyre’s latest collaboration, a twisting and turning narrative which investigates the depths of the human soul.

King drew her inspiration from the real story of Gareth Williams, the MI6 employee who was found dead padlocked inside a bag in a Pimlico flat three years ago. His headline-grabbing death prompted her to explore questions about identity and whether it is possible to get close to anyone. 

As a feminist, she is keen to write ‘kick-ass roles for women’, and Ciphers centres around two sisters, Justine, who works for the secret service, and Kerry. Both women are played by the same actor and, in fact, this production has just four actors in total, playing eight characters, with each pairing having significance.

Following Justine’s mysterious death, Kerry embarks on a mission to track down the truth. She ends up uncovering a whole secret life in the process, with her sister turning out to be someone quite different to whom she had thought. In addition to leading a professional life of subterfuge, it emerges that Justine was having an affair with a married man.

Billington describes McIntyre’s staging of Ciphers as ‘immaculate’. This comes as no surprise. She has been destined for great things since being named Most Promising Newcomer at the 2011 Critics' Circle Theatre Awards, a title previously given to, among others, Eddie Redmayne, Rachel Weisz and, back in 1989, Sam Mendes. 

Ciphers is produced in partnership with Out of Joint, the award-winning touring company led by renowned director Max Stafford-Clark. Book now for what is likely to be a sell-out run when it arrives at the Bush in the new year.

Ticket price: £19.40, £12 concessions

Address and map: 7 Uxbridge Rd, London W12 8LJ

Underground: Shepherd's Bush