Ben And Imo, directed by Erica Whyman and adapted from Mark Ravenhill’s 2013 radio drama, tells the story of Benjamin Britten and Imogen Holst’s burgeoning creative relationship.

With only nine months to write Gloriana, a grand opera commemorating Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, Britten cautiously accepts the help of Imogen, composer Gustav Holst’s daughter (the profession runs in the family) in the hopes that her passion and practicality will overcome Britten’s pessimism.

The play is a two-hander, but the two central performances are its highlight. Britten is played by Samuel Barnett, who manages to bring depth to a character who is at times erratic, unreasonable and infuriating. Imogen Holst is played by Victoria Yeates, whose bright exuberance has an undercurrent of depth and grit.

The play’s tension comes from the darker edges of both characters, and there are uncomfortable moments when the pair drag each other downwards. It’s also a story exploring the nature of genius: in spite of his repeated self-deprecation, Britten rejects Holst’s influence and importance in his work, and she remains broadly unacknowledged.

Given the subject matter of the play, it seems appropriate to celebrate the people who are instrumental to the production, but do not stand in the spotlight. Soutra Gilmour’s costume and set design are excellent, with a lush, elegant and expansive set manifested from a handful of household objects. Inspired by Benjamin Britten’s home in Aldeburgh, the centre of the stage is occupied by a piano, around which the grand opera is written.

The piano revolves on stage, seamlessly navigated by Barnett and Yeates, and Jackie Shemesh’s lighting design creates looming shadows on the wall as this happens. The lighting, in combination with Carolyn Downing’s sound design, evokes a raging sea just out of sight of the audience, which mirrors Britten’s tempestuous mood.

Unsurprisingly, music is also central to the play, with Conor Mitchell’s piano - under Connor Fogel’s musical direction - weaving through scene changes and into the scenes themselves. Like the rest of the production, the music is pared back and elegant, allowing the performances to speak for themselves.

Ben And Imo is an interesting and thought-provoking addition to the RSC’s season, telling a story which might not be known to many. It seeks to shine a light on ‘genius’, and the people behind the scenes who devote themselves to the works of others.

Four Stars

Reviewed by Jessica Clixby at Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon on Saturday 2 March. Ben And Imo continues to show at the venue until Saturday 6 April