In tune with a pioneer

0 Hymns for Robots celebrates Delia Derbyshire

cut-glass vowels. Charles Craggs, who also made the music for the show, plays her long-time friend and collaborator Brian Hodgson.

We’re left in no doubt about the challenges Delia faced both as a woman – before joining the BBC, she went for a job interview at Decca Records at which she was told they did not employ women in their studios and she should apply for a job as a receptionist. Passionate about her work, but not

always easy to work with, she had a dangerous obsession with perfection that could lead to ber sabotaging her own projects.

At times, more structure within the play would help guide us through the story temporally. However, Hymns for Robots is an important contribution to the body of work which seeks to rehabilitate Delia’s considerable legacy. SUSAN MANSFIELD

Until 27 August. Today 4:20pm.