Thrilling Stories of public scandal, danger, spying and, er… knitting? This entertaining musical cabaret explains all, in a cosy, companionable atmosphere created by an invitation to knit. Canadian professional operatic soprano Melanie Gall has discovered 100 songs about knitting, none written in peacetime. In wartime civilians were encouraged to knit socks for the troops, and knitting patterns were used to send coded messages: indeed, ladies knitting by railway lines incorporated railway timetables into scarves as intel for allied bombing raids. Even band leader Glenn Miller wrote a knitting song. Melanie’s beautiful voice, perfect diction and evocative performance lend vivacity and veracity to these old songs, and the stories – including one about Lord Kitchener – are absorbing and often surprising.

theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, until 16 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Louise Rodgers]