Packing cases and boxes surround a double bed, split down the middle. Above each half a clock face – one going forward, the other backwards. And that’s how this musical goes.

Alternate songs tell the beginning and end of the love story between Cathy, aspiring actress, and Jamie, successful writer. Cathy’s songs start at the end of the relationship and work backwards while Jamie’s go from first meeting through to parting.

The show is clever, witty, painful and penned by Jason Robert Brown Danielle Hope, winner of TV’s Over The Rainbow, abandons the red shoes and more than fills the footware of Cathy. From her opening number Still Hurting she moves skilfully through the raw emotions of the break-up to the euphoria of first meeting. Audition Sequence shows off her comic talent.

As Jamie, Jon Robyns is splendid and gets to handle most of the songs with a comic edge – Shiksa Goddess reflects the glee of breaking Jewish expectations by falling for a Gentile. He excels in The Schmuel Song, a parable that he writes to encourage Cathy to go for an acting career.

The final tableau has the pair of them looking out – she in elation; him in despair.