THE Winslow Boy is set in the world of the upper middle classes just before the outbreak of the First World War.

It could be a very sombre piece and uses the story of a 13-year-old boy who is expelled from a Naval college after being accused of theft, to explore issues of truth, justice and human rights. But the production at the Theatre Royal in Bath sparkles with wit and humour and often had the audience laughing out loud.

Much of this comes from Terence Rattigan’s script, and the conflict between individual freedom and the repressions imposed by a hidebound society.

But the audience warmed to the loveable, if somewhat eccentric Winslow family, headed by the starchily patriarchal Arthur Winslow, played by Timothy West.

He captured the steely resolve, tempered by humour, of the Edwardian father whose beloved younger son is, he believes, falsely accused of stealing five shillings from a fellow cadet and is being denied a fair trial.

His fight for truth, aided by his suffragette daughter Catherine, played by Claire Cox, takes its toll on the family’s financial and emotional health.

We see family tensions rise as the once-happy family struggles to survive and the two main fighters are forced to consider what they are fighting for and whether the cost to themselves and others is worthwhile.

Adrian Lukis as the frighteningly intelligent and able barrister Sir Robert Morton delivered a tour de force in his crushing cross examination of the young Winslow boy, eliciting applause from the shocked audience.

He is a formidable figure who mellows over the course of the play, leaving just a hint that his relationship with Catherine might yet flourish.

Finally, words of praise for Sarah Flind who plays the maid Violet, and the boy’s affectionate mother, played by Diane Fletcher, both of whom are fine actors.