RESISTANCE is futile - or is it?

Super smooth salesman Lucky seems to have met his match when he enters Tom's house, in a bid to sell him a fireplace.

But Tom, a former copywriter, knows all his tricks and takes an almost perverse pleasure in toying with him and his hopeless colleague TK, who has also tried to persuade this astute operator to part with his cash.

The Beautiful Warmth, currently playing at the Waterside Arts Centre, marks the professional theatre debut of Old Trafford writer Adam Gilmour, who also plays the inept but lovable TK.

As far as debuts go this is a really impressive dig at how some people can become slaves to the consumer god, after being worn down by the power of advertising.

This isn't new territory for a drama. However, Adam handles his subject matter in an enormously entertaining way and there are several laugh out loud funny moments thanks to some sharp and witty dialogue.

At no point during the evening do you feel you're being preached at and I do hope there's plenty more to come from a writer of some ability.

The best performances come fromGareth Orange, Richard Patterson and Adam Gilmour as Lucky, Tom and TK, but the ensemble all play their part in producing a piece of theatre that is as enjoyable as is thought provoking.

It's also being performed in the council chamber next to the venue and this also helps the audience immerse themselves fully in the events unfolding on stage. Enjoy.

* Until November 1. The box office is on 0161 912 5616 or watersideartscentre.co.uk. Star rating - ***