It is always heartening to watch an unexpected theatre take on an ambitious project – and succeed strongly in its execution. This is precisely what is happening at the Rose with this splendid adaptation of Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2005 novel, a quietly horrifying narrative about a contemporary England in which clones are bred for the express purpose of organ donation.

It is the trickle-down accumulation of small but sinister details that gives the book its power to disconcert, a skill carefully replicated by Suzanne Heathcote’s sharp script.

We start in a bland but cryptic medical facility, where affable Kathy H (Nell Barlow) is tending to a young man who is about to have an operation. Kathy has been a “carer” for 11 years, yet she is anything but a medical professional.

When the young man discovers that she went to a school called Hailsham – a word that elicits a response of fear and awe from all who hear it – he clamours for details.

As Kathy starts to reminisce, scenes from her youth come to life and Heathcote masterfully manoeuvres parallel narratives of past and present, with the first line from each new scene dropped in at the end of the preceding one, thus eliding gaps of time and propelling us urgently onwards.

Christopher Haydon’s confident production underlines how, on one level, the busy, closed world of Hailsham is like that of any other boarding school, with its quirks and rituals.

Friendships and romances form, flourish and fail; Kathy is close to vivacious, vicious Ruth (Matida Bailes) and gentle outsider Tommy (Angus Imrie). There is, however, a constant unsettling bass note of disquiet; “Your lives are set out for you,” says a teacher ominously and we find ourselves caring ever more deeply about these vibrant young people who are destined for lonely, early and possibly painful ends. Rarely has the verb “to finish” sounded so sinister.

A first-rate young cast aids our absorption in the material. Barlow, who marks herself out as a name to watch, brings a wonderfully warm intelligence to the ever-present Kathy, increasingly unsettled by the system but powerless to fight against it.

Bailes, equally fine, suggests that Ruth’s sharpness conceals frightened vulnerability; her (pipe) dream of working in an office is both touching and pitiful.

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Down the years, a rumour persists: couples who can prove that they are deeply in love will be granted a “deferral” from donations and our trio are determined to put this to the test.

Any awkward moments in the adaptation are more than compensated for by the enthralling quality of the story.

We leave the theatre deeply unsettled, but reassuring ourselves that such a scenario could never actually come to pass. Could it?

To 12 October, Rose Theatre, Kingston (020 8174 0090, rosetheatre.org) and then on tour nationally to Northampton, Malvern, Bristol and Chichester

With regard to your article (“The ‘other’ King Charles is ready to reign”, Spectrum, August 31) on the great-great-great-great-grandson of France’s last Bourbon king, Prince Charles-Henri Lobkowicz is a Bourbon through his mother, and women, under the Salic law of succession, could not inherit the French Throne.

He therefore has no dynastic rights to any Bourbon thrones, including Spain and Luxembourg, nor to the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies or the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza.

Also, Jean-Christophe Napoléon did not marry a Bourbon of Parma but Olympia von und zu Arco-Zinneberg, a Habsburg by her mother, Archduchess of Austria-Este, a granddaughter of the Emperor Charles I and Empress Zita, the last Austro-Hungarian sovereigns.

Patrick Germain
Condom, Gers, France

Francis Fukuyama did say, as Edward Luce points out, that liberal democracy might end up as the caretaker of the museum of human history (Books, September 21). But his real prediction was that “the end of history” might be the beginning of something else: “Is not the man who is completely satisfied by nothing more than universal and equal recognition something less than a full human being, indeed, an object of contempt, a ‘last man’ with neither striving nor aspiration? . . . And might not the fear of becoming contemptible ‘last men’ lead men to assert themselves in new and unforeseen ways, even to the point of becoming once again bestial ‘first men’ engaged in bloody prestige battles, this time with modern weapons?”.

Fukuyama, perhaps more frequently criticised than read today, displayed imaginative prescience of the highest order already in 1992.

Andreas Wesemann
London N1, UK

A MAJOR supermarket is set to make a change to 53 of its stores ahead of a nationwide expansion next month.

Iceland has partnered with the food delivery service Deliveroo as part of the latest expansion of its rapid delivery offer.

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And the frozen food retailer is now offering the service at 53 of its UK stores.

Under the plan, the supermarket chain will expand to its 800 Iceland and Food Warehouse stores by the end of October.

More than 3,000 Iceland products are understood to be available to buy through Deliveroo.

You can nab Iceland’s full range of essentials, frozen and fresh groceries from the click of a button.

Iceland says shoppers will be able to receive their orders within 25 minutes under the new partnership.

Products from the retailer’s brand connections such as Greggs and Myprotein are also available to order.

Amazon Prime customers in Manchester and London can also have Iceland food delivered through its third-party deal with Amazon.

Iceland and Food Warehouses already offer deliveries through Just Eat and Uber Eats and also offer a next day and same day delivery service itself.

Justin Addison, Iceland Foods international and partnerships director said: “We’re dedicated to making sure our customers can enjoy our innovative, value-driven range of products, no matter where they are.

“This past year has been a real moment of growth for Iceland and The Food Warehouse, and we’re thrilled to add Deliveroo to our list of partners.

“More customers across the UK will now be able to easily access their favourite Iceland products from the comfort of their own homes.”

Suzy McClintock, Deliveroo VP of new verticals added: “We’re delighted to announce our partnership with Iceland, bringing thousands of fantastic products to customers across the UK in as little as 25 minutes.

“As demand for convenient grocery delivery grows, this partnership means even more households can access their Iceland favourites quickly and easily via our app, including thousands of great value products.”

It comes as Iceland revealed its Christmas 2024 range and it includes a pigs in blankets Yorkshire pudding.

The big day is still a while away, but it’s always good to plan ahead for the merry season.

Luckily, Iceland has unveiled its Christmas menu which will be available in stores and online from November 12.

The items will also be available to buy at Iceland’s The Food Warehouse.

Iceland‘s menu this year offers customers everything they’ll need for Christmas lunch or dinner, but there are some quirky items included as well in case you’re after something a bit different.

Shoppers will be able to feast on mini fish, chip and ketchup sarnies, prawn tacos and an unbelievable XXL pigs in blankets Yorkshire pudding.

The supermarket is also launching battered lobster tails, mini garlic and herb kievs and even some exclusive brand items like Harry Ramsden’s battered mini sausages.

Also returning are familiar favourites such as the turkey crown, mince pies, Christmas pudding and of course all the trimmings like roast potatoes and veg.

Those who want to feast on the exclusive brand’s range like Galaxy, TGI Fridays and Harry Ramsden’s can do so with the mix-and-match deals like three items for £10.

Iceland’s head of development David Lennox said: “We’ve focused on perfecting the classics and making them the best and most delicious yet, as well as offering our customers a range of innovative and affordable new Christmas products which are sure to delight everyone at the dinner table.

“Iceland has some extra special products on offer this festive season.”

How to save money on your food shop

Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:

Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.

Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.

Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.

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Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.

Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.

Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.

Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.

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Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.

But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here.

Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.

“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.

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The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.

TURKEY’S third biggest city, Izmir, sees temperatures hovering around 25C well into autumn.

Combining culture and coastline, it is the perfect place to get your fix of sunshine.

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Top that off with fabulous food and you’ve got an epic city break.

WHY SHOULD I VISIT?

OFTEN overlooked in favour of the capital, Istanbul, or other coastal towns such as Bodrum, Marmaris or Kusadasi, Izmir is something of a hidden gem.

It’s the gateway to the pretty Cesme peninsula, which juts out into the Aegean and is dotted with beautiful beaches (try Tekke, a stretch popular with families, near a string of hotels and apartments, or Alaçatı Körfezi, a shallow, protected bay which offers jet skis, banana boats, and windsurfing).

And if you love food, you are in luck. Fish and seafood restaurants line the waterfront, known as the Kordon, while you can taste a variety of snacks in the city’s bustling Kemeralti bazaar.

Most sights are within easy distance from each other, but there’s an efficient public transport system, including bus and underground.

The Bilet 35 ticket can be bought for two, three, five or ten journeys, starting from just nine lira (20p).

STREETS MADE FOR WALKING?

IZMIR’S centre has several must-sees, all within walking distance of each other.

Start by strolling the picturesque Kordon, where you will see ferries regularly crossing the bay, and pass by Konak Pier, which was designed by French architect Gustave Eiffel. Here you will find several retail stores, as well as a handful of bars and restaurants.

Beyond this is Konak Square, known for the distinctive marble and stone Clock Tower in its centre which dates back to 1901.

From here you can lose yourself in the maze of streets that make up the Kemeralti Bazaar.

Stalls sell everything from clothing to fruit and vegetables, and you will find plenty of souvenirs to take home, from glass tea sets to baklava and lokum (Turkish delight).

Don’t miss a swift ride up 56m to the top of the city’s “Asansör” — the word means elevator, and this one, which was first built in 1907, used to be powered by steam, like the one in Lisbon. You will get a fantastic view of the city from the top (free).

ANYTHING FOR BUCKET LIST?

IT’S not in Izmir, but while you’re there, a trip to the ancient site of Ephesus is a must (£33pp, muze.gov.tr).

Less than 90 minutes’ drive away, the old city dates back to 10,000BC, and at various points, was ruled by the Greeks, the Romans, and the Ottomans.

Today you can still see what’s left of its inhabitants’ elaborate houses complete with mosaic floors, temples to gods and goddesses, and even a set of open-air, marble-topped public loos.

Pose for pictures next to the impressive 56ft-high remains of the Library of Celsus. Measuring 2,000 sq ft inside, it was one of the largest libraries in the Greco-Roman world.

You will also want to snap some of the dozens of cats who consider this site their home.

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WHERE SHOULD I EAT?

IF you are just looking for a snack, Kemeralti Bazaar has simple cafes which specialise in cheap and tasty fish sandwiches — a local favourite.

And look out for those selling kumru, a hearty, local sausage, cheese and pepper roll.

You will also find street carts offering midye dolma, cooked mussels stuffed with rice and herbs, and served cold.

For more traditional Turkish food, try affordable Konyali Alsancak for kebabs and lahmacun (Turkish pizza made with mincemeat).

Or for a more romantic setting, Adabeyi on Konak Pier offers the chance to dine on anything from calamari to grilled sea bass as you watch the sun set.

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I FANCY A DRINK

FOR a tipple with a stunning outlook, head to the Skyfire bar and restaurant on the eighth floor of the Renaissance hotel, which offers a panoramic view across the Aegean.

WHERE SHOULD I STAY?

THE Swissotel Buyuk Efes Izmir is a smart, contemporary hotel close to the waterfront, featuring cool artwork and sculptures dotted around the grounds.

Or the nearby cosy Renaissance Izmir has rooms decorated with vintage, black and white photos of the city.