Expect plenty of thrills and spills as The 39 Steps arrives at Norwich Theatre Royal on a UK tour. 

Patrick Barlow's adaptation of John Buchan's 1915 novel and the 1935 classic spy film by Alfred Hitchcock ran on London's West End for nine years. 

The theatre show features four actors playing 139 roles in 100 minutes and it tells the story of fearless hero Richard Hannay (Tom Byrne) who stumbles across an international spy conspiracy.

Safeena Ladha as Annabella Schmidt and Tom Byrne as Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps Picture: Mark SeniorSafeena Ladha as Annabella Schmidt and Tom Byrne as Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps Picture: Mark Senior (Image: Mark Senior)

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After finding himself wrongly accused of murder, he sets out on a mission from London to Scotland - using his quick wit to evade capture and protect the nation's secrets. 

Byrne, who played a young Prince Andrew in Netflix's The Crown, was the only actor who did not multi-role and his performance was as razor-sharp as his pencil moustache.

Safeena Ladha effortlessly transitioned between a handful of roles as Hannay's various love interests and she drove the narrative forward with ease. 

Maddie Rice as a Scottish hotelier, one of her many roles, in The 39 Steps Picture: Mark SeniorMaddie Rice as a Scottish hotelier, one of her many roles, in The 39 Steps Picture: Mark Senior (Image: Mark Senior)

Jacob Daniels and Maddie Rice as Clown 1 and Clown 2, respectively, blew me away as they took on a mammoth number of roles - from Scottish hoteliers to underwear salesmen. 

They provided many of the laugh-out-loud moments, with Rice particularly shining as the toe-curling Professor Jordan. 

While there was a minimal set it worked brilliantly and, through a few props and clever lighting, the space effortlessly transformed into different locations. 

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A standout moment was the train scene with a model railway and billowing smoke. 

Safeena Ladha as Pamela and Tom Byrne as Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps Picture: Mark SeniorSafeena Ladha as Pamela and Tom Byrne as Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps Picture: Mark Senior (Image: Mark Senior)

Another highlight was the puppetry and silhouettes used for the Hannay police chase through the Scottish countryside. 

The two-hour run time, including a 20-minute interval, kept the pace fast throughout - though the start felt a little rushed. 

The 39 Steps runs until June 22 - book tickets at norwichtheatre.org or call 01603 630000.