THE play that coined the term ‘gaslighting’ – a form of emotional abuse that causes a victim to question their sanity – will be performed by Wimborne Drama Productions at the Tivoli Theatre from February 21 – 23.

Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton, a classic Victorian thriller, is a powerful story of a young woman psychologically dominated by her husband. While Jack Manningham is out on the town each evening his wife Bella stays at home alone, believing she’s losing her mind. She can’t explain the disappearance of familiar objects, the mysterious footsteps overhead or the ghostly flickering of the living room gaslights. The surprise arrival of retired Detective Rough leads to a shocking discovery that will shake her respectable Victorian marriage to its core.

Gaslight was first staged in 1938 and won Ingrid Bergman an Oscar for her role in the 1944 film version.

“I always like taut psychological dramas and I love thrillers,” says director Sam Moulton. “As well as it being good entertainment, there is a very serious core of social comment in this play. It has given its name to the modern term ‘gaslighting’. Only recently in the media, the former Spice Girl Melanie Brown used the term about her own abusive marriage.”

Gaslight stars Tracey Nicholls, Richard Neal, Chris Durham, Chrissie Neal and Jemma Cable, with support from Gary Paine and Richard Scotson. Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd. Performances are at 7.30pm (tickets £13) with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm (£11). For tickets and further information, call 01202 885566 or visit tivoliwimborne.co.uk.