My Name is Rachel Corrie is based on the writings of the 23-year-old American peace activist, who was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer in the Gaza Strip in 2003 while acting as a human shield in front of a Palestinian house.
It is also a story of a young person's loss of innocence and coming of age, in a world far uglier and more violent than our forefathers could have feared.
"I live in a terrifying mirror," Corrie reflects.
"It hurts me again, like it has hurt me in the past, to witness how awful we can allow the world to be."
Bennett is engaging, confident and comfortable with her audience.
As much, you suspect, as the headstrong Corrie would have been.
The one-person polemic is a multilayered production, with subtle and skilful lighting and visual effects by set designer Marty Roberts and empathetic direction from Stuart Young.
Corrie's notebook jottings, emails to her parents and images of her inspirations are projected across the back of the stage as Bennett talks us through her all-too short life.
My Name is Rachel Corrie was edited from her diaries and emails by Katherine Viner and directed by Alan Rickman when it premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in April, 2005.
The play reveals a compassionate, idealistic young person who is fiercely committed to making the world a better place.
While not really knowing what that world is.
"We're all just kids, curious about other kids," Corrie muses.
The play closes with a compelling video showing the late Rachel Corrie as a child in the 1980s, speaking at a peace convention about her hopes for the future.
Knowing that that future ends under a 60-tonne Caterpillar D9R bulldozer is heart-wrenchingly poignant.
You are left saddened by the premature loss of a passionate and compassionate young soul.
And even more saddened at what that loss says about our world.
A compelling and, at times, quite mesmerising piece of theatre.
• My Name is Rachel Corrie is on at 7.30pm at Allen Hall until March 7.
Matinee session at 4pm tomorrow and next Sunday.
