Theatre: handbag

Mark Ravenhill is most famous what he didn't write. He's the man who was due to do the ill-fated series three of This Life. But the producers pulled the plug on the whole idea and went out on a high after after series two. Not that Ravenhill despaired. He's been busy writing his new play Handbag (below) or The Importance of Being Someone. Inspired by Oscar Wilde's deliriously funny comedy about disguise, deception and defiantly unorthodox parenting, Ravenhill's play is described as "provocative". Hardly surprising when you consider that his first full-length play was Shopping and Fucking.

The Actors Touring Company production of `Handbag' is at the Lyric Studio, Hammersmith, London W6 (0181-741 2311)

David Benedict