There are laughs a-plenty in this fast-paced new music-theatre piece from Opera della Luna, written by the company's artistic director, Jeff Clarke, and performed by him and leading patter man Simon Butteriss. Most of Gilbert and Sullivan's patter songs - plus a few other numbers from the Savoy canon - are distilled into an hour and a half of mayhem, cleverly reflecting the storyline without ever feeling contrived.

But alongside the humour there is anguish, frustration and disillusionment, making this a poignant commentary on the instability of the theatrical profession and the insecurities of many of its players.

The story is set just after the Second World War, and revolves around a fictitious understudy to the principal patter man in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, who endures a sleepless night after being told he is 'on' the next evening as the Lord Chancellor in Iolanthe. With a little well-intentioned support from a variety man in the same lodgings, he finds he can remember every patter song except the one he is due to perform.

As the night progresses, he gradually unburdens all his feelings of self-doubt and worthlessness; by the second act, the mood becomes darker as he reveals some of the personal rejections and tragedies that have dogged his life. And when morning arrives, there's just one more disappointment awaiting him . . .

The piece is an ideal vehicle for the talents of Simon Butteriss, who has to call on every emotion in his repertoire, and does so powerfully and convincingly. Unlike his hapless alter ego, Butteriss has no difficulty remembering the patter songs, and he churns them out at an audacious speed and with perfect clarity.

Much of the humour came from the variety man, whose ignorance of Gilbert and Sullivan is played out with wonderful gormlessness by Jeff Clarke.

If Nightmare Songs comes this way again, do go and see it. Like the items on Ko-Ko's little list, this really mustn't be missed.