Commissioned by Josie Rourke in 2008 when she was artistic director at the Bush, Simon Stephens was given three weeks to write a 30 min play, for one actor.

The endeavour coincided with an email from Andrew Scott and so he became the physical embodiment of Alex, the Sea Wall's character. It was essentially written for him.

This revival at the National Theatre's intimate temporary space, The Shed, is playing for just one week at 10 pm and it is a shame more people won't get to see it because it is an exceptional piece.

It is best not to know too much about the story just that Scott plays Alex, who is a husband, father and son-in-law.

Stephen's script delivers something that is both cleverly structured - artful is how PolyG described it - and yet so natural. In Andrew Scott's hands it has tremendous warmth and humour and yet there is something highly charged, something quite raw.

He develops a close relationship with the audience as if he's telling his story to each person individually. He draws you in, freed from the distraction of sets, fancy costumes and lighting he has you hanging on his every word which can be quite unsettling at times. And, such is his performance that what goes unsaid hangs like an oppressive weight.