David Harrower’s Blackbird caused waves when it premiered at the 2005 Edinburgh Festival.

The story of 28-year-old Una and 56-year-old Ray revisiting their cataclysmic affair, the play was acclaimed for its intelligent exploration of the outer limits of morality, sexual obsession and love. After all, this wasn’t about a conventional love affair; Una was just 12 years old when it began.

“It’s definitely shocking,” says Dawn Smithers, who is directing a new production for Drip Action Theatre. “My husband and I saw it last year and were knocked out by it. It’s such a powerful play, where two actors just captivate an audience.”

To be fully appreciated, Harrower advised the hard- hitting play should not be approached as an “issue” but merely the story of a relationship and Smithers agrees. In billing the play in this year’s Arundel Festival, she has described it only as “a love story”.

“Because that’s what it is really, and we don’t want people to turn up with too many preconceptions. It examines a very, very controversial subject and certainly, my husband and I walked out arguing about what was right and what was wrong, but that’s the point – you should leave thinking, ‘It’s up to me to make my mind up about what I’ve just seen’.”

It’s not perhaps the most obvious choice for the Arundel Festival, where Drip Action opens their run tonight, but Smithers is confident the diverse audience the festival attracts will appreciate the “beautifully written” play.

“I think people like to see something that’s a little different from the usual and personally, I enjoy doing a range of work that gives me something to get my teeth into. I’m working on a Godber for Arundel Players at the moment, which is black but very funny, and last year I did As You Like It. I wouldn’t say Blackbird is a play you will enjoy as such – that’s the wrong word – but it’s riveting. It still holds me and I know it backwards now. You just don’t want to look away.”

* 8pm, £9/£8, 01903 882268

* Drip Action Theatre is also running a Festival Theatre Trail during the festival.

Now in its tenth year, the trail aims to give audiences the chance to see eight different plays in eight locations over the course of eight days, and features a selection of plays by new and more established writers.

It runs from 11am-6pm in venues including St Mary’s Hall in London Road, The Swan Hotel in High Street and India Gate restaurant, in Mill Road, every day up until Saturday.

For full details, visit www.arundelfestival.co.uk