Jacob Storms’ one-man play delves into the foundational years of one of America’s great playwrights. It offers an insightful look at a seldom-discussed period in Tennessee Williams’ life (the years 1939–45), which helps us peer into the traumatic development of this lauded Southern eccentric.

The play, which was originally directed by Alan Cumming, sees Storms treat his audience as a supportive stranger, the shoulder of which he leans upon as he regales this tumultuous story of how Williams went from being virtually unknown to the forefront of American theatre throughout his late 20s and early 30s. Employing wry humour and an ironic sense of wit, Storms ensures his crowd needn’t work hard to imagine itself in the shoes of the late dramatist.

Engaging throughout and tightly packed with well-researched information, Tennessee Rising tackles heavy subjects at a digestible pace. Storms’ Southern accent does take a moment to get used to, but the result is a satisfying hour of succinct historical storytelling.

Tennessee Rising: The Dawn Of Tennessee Williams, Assembly Rooms, until 27 August, 5.05pm.