TAKE a stroll into the acidic world of George and Martha in the Library Theatre's production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Edward Albee's sixties Broadway smash is a hard-hitting portrait of a boozy night hosted by history lecturer George and his gin-swilling wife Martha.

Their claustrophobic world is punctuated by a young couple, Nick a new college lecturer and his wife Honey.

The action centres around the tales and games the four tell about each other, fuelled by brimming spirit glasses.

George Costigan, best remembered as Bob in the classic Rita, Sue and Bob too, brings a downbeaten, but violently angry, George to life.

Whilst Martha, played by At Home with the Braithwaites' regular Ishia Bennison, has a viscous tongue and growing disgust of both her husband and guests.

The play runs along at a crackling pace, with some great lines, nasty slights and incredible character assassinations.

When Edward Albee wrote the play many people thought it too nasty and dark, but really it is a love story.

George and Martha know each other so well that even though the often repulse each other, they will never repel, and epitomise the phrase 'opposites attract'.

The Library Theatre, Manchester until November 23.