The story of a woman’s experiences of abuse and life in a refuge was always going to be harrowing, but what was so surprising about this production was the unexpected moments of humour, wit and warmth. These are juxtaposed violently with the rage, the frustration, the impotence of a protagonist who is let down time and again by the very people and institutions who should be helping her. We watch her struggle with the demons of her past, with her abusive ex-boyfriend, with the other damaged women in the refuge and the faceless, uninterested bureaucrats. We don’t merely watch this tragedy unfold on stage; thanks to the taut script and mesmerising performances, we feel it.