HOW many Tony Benns did it take to change a lightbulb?

The answer to that surreal dilemma is here in a Nottingham Playhouse production at the Everyman.

It has been a hit in London and Edinburgh and is now on tour.

This is a topical, theatrical curtain-raiser to the forthcoming Labour Party Conference.

A skilful one-man piece of drama written by Andy Barrett, directed by Giles Croft, designed by Rachael Jacks and Martin Curtis is spot-on with sound and lighting.

It stars versatile Philip Bretherton as the late, great politician.

We see him in his office at home. In dressing gown and ''No to Poll Tax'' T-shirt, his entrance speaks volumes.

For the next 75 minutes he contemplates his future and whether or not to "pack it all in"...politics, that is.

He settles himself down at his desk in front of crammed filing cabinets and tape decks.

Meticulously he switches on numerous recorders in the process.

A professional trait that Tony Benn was famous for in his 50-year career.

Tape recorders and Mr Benn went hand-in-hand.

We journalists would always be asked politely by the man himself if he could record interviews.

You felt in the presence of a very serious politician - a statesman.

A genuine 100% listener and a man of the people who also had a great sense of humour.

Tony always chose his words politically correctly, so to speak.

The audience see and hear the self-confessed hoarder, inventor, tee-totaller and pipe-smoker muse about his life from the army to a multi-tasking Cabinet minister to a one-time PM contender.

He sits and shuffles, chews thoughts and bananas at the same time and wistfully recounts his loyal and ever-supportive late wife.

The memories come flooding back as he checks his biography from the shelves behind him and remembers anecdotes, some seeped in anger others delivered with the timing of a comedian.

Meetings with Kinnock, Tony Blair and the Soviets are interspaced with his own philosophy on struggle, socialism and whether he actually made a difference in his life.

A light flickers and goes out as he recalls the three-day week.

Tony Benn then tackles and wins over the light bulb problem.

But has he made his last tape...?

This is an illuminating, brilliant performance from Mr Bretherton.

It is as thought-provoking as it is wonderfully humorous.

Globe rating: Five Stars

Until Saturday.

Everyman box office: 0151 709 4776.