YORK Theatre Royal's programme planners have not pushed the point, but this season there has been a series of one or two-night shows that, when put together, each stretch the boundaries of performance.

After Greek tragedy met aerial acrobatics in Tamsin Shasha's Bacchic and English folk music made giant leaps into the dance world of beat box and breakdance in The Demon Barber Roadshow, now the Jonathan Lunn Dance Company has knitted together artists from the worlds of film, dance, music and literature.

In a two-night run in York earlier this week, BAFTA and Golden Globe-winning actress Miranda Richardson took on the role of the narrator, all in Scottish widow black while those around here were in shades of grey catalogue clothing, that suited Peter Mumford's shadowy lighting but had none of the sexiness to be found in Phoenix Dance's costumes.

Reading Room incorporated text and narrative by the late Anthony Minghella, along with texts by Billy Collins, Samuel Beckett and Raymond Carver, read with poise by Richardson as bodies moved around her, in tune with the words.

The language and dancing grew ever more intertwined, and in light filtered through gauze that all but hid facial expression, body movement was all. In the first half, in a study of connection and disconnection, secrets and lies, it was easy to feel somewhat disconnected from the staccato, often bird-like movements, some solo, others in duets, but sensuality and sexuality and double entendres all came together beautifully by the mesmeric finale.