IT was a bold choice for the Octagon to open its first complete season following a multi-million pound transformation with An Adventure - and on the whole it was a decision which has paid off wonderfully well.

Following Rasik and Jyoti and their life together for more than 60 years, at times it threatens to be a little too epic in scale but - and this is the clever bit - it ultimately remains intensely intimate, moving and thought-provoking.

That in the main is down to the cast of just four - two of whom are making their professional stage debuts, not that you would ever tell.

The scope of the play is certainly epic taking us from India of the early 50s to London in 2018.

It opens with a fairly hapless Rasik appearing an unlikely suitor for the feisty and surprisingly potty-mouthed Jyoti before we follow them to their new life in Kenya where political turmoil, the last throws of colonialism and threat of revolution turns friends against each other.

It is then on to Britain in the Sixties as the couple are part of the first wave of immigrants to settle, experiencing yet more political turmoil, racism and their own changing hopes and aspirations. Before we final meet them in later life reflecting on what might have been and what they have experienced together.

For the first time the Octagon was able to use a runway-like staging with large video screens at either end. It was very simple but so effective and hints at what might be possible with other productions in the years to come.

Esh Alladi as Rasik had a beautifully naive charm. A man of dreams and ideas he was at times almost childlike particularly when facing his formidable life partner Jyoti. I still can't quite believe that this is Saba Shiraz's stage debut. She was so confident, funny and spirited - a supposed TV clip of her being interviewed outside a factory was one of the most moving points of the play.

Daon Broni as David, a fiercely independent Kenyan and Jessica Kaur as the couple's daughter Sonal were equally impressive. When the cast is so small they have a lot of responsibility on their shoulders.

This is one of those productions you come away from knowing far more about a certain subject than you did when you went in. But interesting as the political and social history is, it is the human element which is at the heart of the play.

The only real criticism I have is that at over three hours, it is a tad too long. But such is the quality of acting - and the quality of writing from Vinay Patel - that I can overlook that.

An Adventure is a bold statement of intent from the Octagon and one which discerning audiences will really appreciate.

The production runs until Saturday, February 26. Details from www.octagonbolton.co.uk