The Treatment, Almeida

Fake news is rooted in the art of storytelling, because storytelling isn't about arranging truths so much as moulding and manipulating them till they're bigger, better, brighter. Till they promote a particular worldview. The underlying theme in Martin Crimp's revived satire The Treatment is that we all embellish and exploit the truth. Every storyteller whether in the room or on the screen - or on social media, will reframe turning points to show themselves, or their characters, in a better light. They project themselves as innocents or ingenues, heroes or saviours, victims or unwitting witnesses.

Jennifer and Andrew make films. When Anne turns up at their office with a treatment - a story outline - chronicling her violent marriage, they're hooked. Jennifer savours the detail, lingering over the image of Anne trussed to a chair, her mouth taped shut. The grey of the tape would look great on camera, she says. It would catch the light and reflect Anne's husband Simon, wearing a hood and abusing her. Anne protests. Simon never abused her. Jennifer is inventing facts. Meanwhile, a veteran playwright submits a treatment in which an elderly artist is forcibly turned into a sexual voyeur. Deciding to fuse the two stories together, Jennifer leaves it to Andrew to get Anne's consent...

The Treatment is crisp, blackly comic, and joyous. Directed with precision by Lyndsey Turner, the tension slowly ratchets up as Anne's story is spiralised by the professionals. The group scenes featuring a bevy of silent extras - there are 30 cast credits - are beautifully choreographed. The surreal ending will stay with you. What we've learned is that storytellers, whether in life or art, play with reality. When Anne, disillusioned by the exploitation and corruption of the film world, returns to Sam in a bid to find her truth, the line is crossed by them all. The blind have been leading the blind.

In conclusion: Giles Cadle's set and Neil Austin's lighting are as crisp in The Treatment as the action. The leads - Aisling Loftus as Anne, Matthew Needham as Sam,  Indira Varma as Jennifer, Julian Ovenden as Andrew - are terrific. Great support is provided by Gary Beadle, Ian Gelder, Ellora Torchi, Hara Yannas, and Ben Onuwewke. Well worth a ticket.

The Treatment, Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, London N1.  Run ends June 10