The Art of Coarse Acting is an uproarious production filled with anything but “coarse acting”. Adapted from a book of the same name that skewers the world of amateur dramatics, the show unfolds through a series of loosely connected anecdotes and explanations about every conceivable mishap that could beset a production in the run-up to the opening night. From missing leading men to malfunctioning props, no aspect of staging a production is as straightforward as it seems when working with a coarse actor.

The coarse actor’s motto, we are told by the narrator – played to wry perfection by Serena Macmillan – is that “the audience never notice a thing”. Armed with this belief, they have no need to learn lines, attend rehearsals regularly or even read the entire play, which leads to some predictably amusing results. Actors, however, aren’t the play’s only target; pretentious directors (who want to transcend the “mere mechanics of speech”), experimental set designers (“I was thinking of a z-shaped stage”) and bolshy treasurers are all in the crosshairs too.

The cast must be praised for their incredible versatility in playing these various roles without losing the essential hilarity of each. Often switching between several different characters over the course of a few minutes, Natalie Reeve, Jasmin Rees, Louis Morris, Isla Iago and Katy Cross are far from the self-aggrandising luvvies they lampoon, and have an excellent comic chemistry. Katy Cross in particular, as Askew, the coarse actor par excellence, is brilliant, capturing the sublime ludicrousness of an actor whose ego vastly outstrips his talent.

The adaptation of The Art of Coarse Acting could have easily become repetitive or disjointed, but in director Charlotte Cromie’s adept hands, the transition from page to stage is seamless. It is fitting that the play should use the very medium it mocks because despite the many mishaps, the show ends with the cast pondering their next production, reflecting the affection underpinning the satire. Whether you are involved in the theatre or not, The Art of Coarse Acting is excellent entertainment but also a reminder of the blood, sweat, tears and love that goes into producing a play, even a coarse one