Talent, Sheffield Crucible review: a fitfully funny flashback to when Victoria Wood was a new face

• Victoria Wood’s 1978 debut play – Talent – was literally written on the back of an envelope. Not the entire thing but the scenario that clinched the commission was dashed off overnight. It was then scripted in three weeks in the Morecambe flat the 25-year-old shared with her comedy magician partner (later husband) Geoffrey Durham (known as The Great Soprendo): “Is this a play?” she would ask him, a touch baffled. Broadly speaking, of course, yes. After all, it co-won Wood the Evening Standard’s