THIS long-running production of Cabaret is wild, manic and deeply unnerving - everything it should be.

While Javier De Frutos' ravishing choreography is enough to shock some of the Malvern Theatres audience, it is the show's dark political heart, rather than the up-front sexuality, which makes it worth seeing.

The John Kander/Fred Ebb’s musical is set in Germany circa-1930 when people lived for the moment and sexual ambiguity reigned in Berlin's nightclubs. Young cabaret singer Sally Bowles begins an affair with American novelist Cliff Bradshaw, but the Nazi party is slowly gaining power and will soon alter the world around them forever.

Wayne Sleep is delightfully disturbing as the master of ceremonies, Emcee. His darkly comic performance is, albeit pantomime in part, a constant reminder of how quickly Wonderland can turn into Hell.

Bill Kenwright’s production has been touring since May 2008, but thanks to Rufus Norris’ direction and Katrina Lindsay’s atmospheric design it has not grown tired.

Scenes slide effortlessly into each other and what first appears to be gratuitous nudity is symbolic.

Siobhan Dillon, who starred in the BBC series How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria, was an exasperating but irresistible Sally; an oddball English girl whose self destructive streak was barely hidden behind her showgirl confidence. Her performance was well-matched by Henry Luxemburg whose angst-ridden Cliff was a formidable force.

Lurid and lewd, Cabaret runs at the Malvern Theatres until Saturday, November 14.