On TV

The Secretary Who Stole £4 Million (BBC2)

BEING Pamela is the documentary they tried to ban. "They" being the official receiver, who represents the interests of those who cannot represent themselves, and St Helen's Council, which provides carers for Pamela Edwards. She suffers from dissociative identity disorder - or multiple personality disorder, as it's better known. She's literally not herself most of the time as Pamela competes for attention with her four other personalities: Margaret, Susan, Sandra and Andrew.

Film-maker David Modell spent two years with 31-year-old Pamela to shed light on this little understood condition. The documentary was shown as planned after a High Court ruling that freedom of expression was more important than her individual rights.

Perhaps the council was concerned at the public debate that might result from people learning it spends £500,000 a year on a team of 20 full and part-time carers to look after Pamela in her own home. This is almost twice the cost of keeping her in an institution.

The scheme was created five years ago by Judy Williams, her former foster mother as she battled to help Pamela. What emerged was a disturbing story that offered little hope for the future. Judy would say otherwise, maintaining that Pamela's condition is improving. Her IQ has gone up, she self-harms less and her violent outbreaks are not so extreme. But we heard stories of her breaking windows during a violent outburst, leading her carers to lock themselves in a room. We saw a holiday to Greece become a battle of wills between Judy and Pamela's personalities. "She's getting better but it takes time. One day it will change," said Judy. The evidence of this film suggests there may be a large element of wishful thinking there.

The tragedy is that Pamela wasn't born that way. She developed multiple personalities to deal with childhood starvation and abuse. Margaret, Susan, Sandra and Andrew all made appearances in the programme. The reasons for her behaviour are rooted in childhood. Her sister has obtained social services records detailing the abuse and neglect. They make horrific reading and show how little was done to protect the children from their abusive parents. There's no easy solution to Pamela's situation, although it would be good to think this documentary will at least help others understand Pamela and those like her.

I suppose you could say that Joyti De-Laurey had a split personality. On one level, she was a loyal and trusted personal assistant working in a large investment bank. On another, she was a thief who helped herself to millions of pounds of their money. Based on a true story, The Secretary Who Stole £4 Million was an enjoyable crime caper with Meera Syal sleekly efficient as the financial fiddler. I loved the way Joyti repaid her boss the £40,000 she'd lent her - out of her boss's own account.

The Unexpected Man, Darlington Civic Theatre

THE play is the title of a new book as its famous writer and his number one female fan happen to be sitting in the same compartment on a trip from Paris to Frankfurt. Thoughts from the two explode into emotional monologue shared with the audience but not each other. The smooth-operating Peter Bowles copes admirably with the testy and self-doubting Paul Parsky. His companion allows the equally skilful Sian Phillips to explore the twilight world of a woman who has grown to distrust men but has fallen in love with an author so close to her own soul.

Unlike the constant laughter surrounding Yasmina Reza's hit play Art, there is only light amusement in 50 minutes of inner debate before the two converse in the slightest. Perhaps something has been lost in translation by Christopher Hampton, but there are times when this clever format - which Parsky identifies as a potential short story - seems to be stuck at the points.

Reza's author also tweaks the noses of the artistic elite with references to those who always laugh in a certain way in all the right places during classic performances. The writer herself still maintains a pretty lofty perch and will require a slightly shorter spoon if she's serious about dining with the proletariat. As it is, there's a feelgood final chapter as Natalie finally pulls The Unexpected Man from her bag and starts to read.

l Runs until Saturday. Box Office: (01325) 348888

Viv Hardwick

Jesus Christ Superstar, Sunderland Empire

THIS Bill Kenwright production is the latest of the big, lavish shows to arrive at the venue since its recent expansion. The set is striking, with a centrepiece of a huge suspended crown of thorns, and provides a fitting backdrop for the dramatic tale of Christ's last days.

Dressed in white robes and with his long hair and understated manner, Craig Price makes a fitting Jesus. His wise words and commanding presence make it easy to see why people love him, but this soon lands him in trouble with the authorities. Steve Fortune as a gravel-voiced Caiaphas, and his cronies make it their mission to bring about Jesus's demise and ultimately, they succeed by securing help from an embittered Judas. What makes the story fascinating is its refusal to make any simple judgements. Judas is as much victim as betrayer, struggling with his conscience as he plays out his predetermined role, and even Pilate has a dream in which he foresees himself as Jesus's unwilling executioner. Among all his followers, Mary Magdalene is the only one who truly understands what Jesus needs, and Helen Catherine-Ball delivers a powerful version of I Don't Know How To Love Him in the role.

While the score is challenging, the singers meet its demands with ease to deliver a smooth, polished performance. Nick Richings's moody lighting is the icing on the cake. A real tear-jerker.

l Runs until June 18. Box office 0870 6021130.

Sarah Foster