JIMMY Porter was the original angry young man, a phrase coined to describe the anti-hero of John Osborne's play which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.

I don't know what 1950s audiences made of Jimmy but these days he comes across as a bullying, misogynist chap with more chips on his shoulder than you'd find in McCain's warehouse.

Karl Haynes brilliantly conveys the arrogance, the frustration and the bitterness of Jimmy but his attitude can't possibly win him any sympathy. Learning that he watched his father die when he was ten may help explain it, but even his dash to the bedside of a sick friend can't make you like him.

During one of his rants, wife Alison screams, "If he doesn't stop, I'll go out of my mind", and you know exactly what she means.

It's Sunday and this first kitchen sink play - which, oddly, features a sink-less kitchen - finds Jimmy and friend Cliff (Davood Ghadami) reading the papers while Alison does the ironing.

This Sunday ritual of "papers, tea, ironing" gives way to emotional meltdown when the arrival of Alison's friend Helena (Rina Mahoney) causes a rebellion in the Porter household.

The play's verbosity may make it seem old-fashioned but Marcus Romer's production, well acted by all concerned on Ali Allen's claustrophobic set, grips despite Jimmy's tiresome behaviour.

And any production that sends you out of the theatre discussing the characters and issues raised has clearly done something right.

l Until March 3. Tickets 01423-502116.