The inaugural original production Sorter by Swansea’s new Grand Ambition initiative is nothing short of spectacular. Sorter is written by and stars Richard Mylan, who you may recognise from his high-profile roles in BBC’s Coupling and Waterloo Road. The two-hander with a minimal set is a piercing look at the characters and circumstances behind heroin addiction, which Mylan struggled with for 20 years; he has written an incredible script that Grand Ambition co-founder Steve Balsamo is right to describe as “like poetry”.

Set in Swansea, much of this 70-minute play is surprisingly hilarious: in-jokes for Swansea residents and a distinctly Welsh humour pervade throughout. But such lightness only throws the story into darker depths when the characters reveal more of their shocking, and all-too-real, backstories.

Alongside Mylan, in the studio space on the top floor of the Grand Theatre, is Sophie Melville, portraying Example A. Melville’s performance is genuinely stunning, as good as anything you would see on any stage anywhere; her ability to change mood, challenge and humour the audience, interact with and undercut Mylan’s Example B show a mastery of stagecraft audience members should count themselves lucky to witness.

With superb direction, sound and lighting design from the wider creative team, Sorter is a production that firmly establishes the titular ambition of Grand Ambition to produce premier, cutting-edge theatre in Wales’ second city.

And for something completely different, Grand Ambition’s next project will be a piece for theatre lovers of all ages: Hops Loves Vegetables, written by the company’s co-director Michelle McTernan. Alongside this the company is helping to reposition Pontardawe Arts Centre’s project for young musicians, Future Blood, into an initiative that stretches to Swansea and Llanelli, bringing in all three neighbouring counties.

Ambition is one thing, but delivery is another. Based on the highest of standards set by Sorter, this is a team more than capable of living up to the expectations set by their name.

Sorter, Grand Theatre, Swansea, Fri 3 Mar

On until Fri 10 Mar. Tickets: £14. Info: here

words JOHN-PAUL DAVIES