But by Jove, they've done it! With thanks to a combination of "old school" theatre tricks and a hard-working cast moving the ever-changing pieces of the set around the stage.

The theatrical adaptation of Hitchcock's 1959 classic North By Northwest has drawn hoots of laughter and rapturous applause from Queensland audiences during its first week of performances.

Much of the humour and appreciation has been created using two small booths fitted with cameras and well-angled lighting as well as a large green screen.

A spinning newspaper front page, still used in films today, has been recreated using lights, a live-feed camera and hand-held wooden board that is spun around.

The image is then projected onto a large green screen the back of the set for the audience to see.

A similar trick is used to allow the audience to see what the cast is writing or typing during the show's key scenes.

Once again, the live-feed camera and lights project the words onto the large green screen.

The spy thriller, mixed with comedy and romance, has been adapted into a stage show by director Simon Phillips and playwright Carolyn Burns and retains Hitchcock's trademark suspense.

It has come off the back of sold-out seasons in Bath in the UK and Toronto in Canada.

Audiences follow the protagonist, successful advertising executive Roger O. Thornhill (Matt Day), as he is abducted by thugs in a case of mistaken identity.

Numerous attempts are made on his life on the orders of villain Vandamm (Jonny Pasvolsky).

As the show's hero flees across the country, he regularly bumps into femme fatale Eve Kendall (Amber McMahon) along the way.

The headphones worn by behind-the-scenes staff are alive with chatter and commands throughout the show due to the number of sound effects, green screen image changes and lighting adjustments.

In order to take audiences inside moving vehicles, a police station, courtroom, the United Nations as well as thick woodland and isolated farming country, the stage background is constantly evolving.

When members of the cast are not performing, they are called upon to move pieces of the set around like pawns on a chessboard under the cover of stage darkness.

Some secrets, including how Mount Rushmore comes to Brisbane and how a crop duster shoots at the show's protagonist without risk to the audience, must be kept secret at the producers' request.

Nevertheless, all the more reason to find out in person.

North By Northwest can be seen at QPAC's Lyric Theatre until Sunday, December 9. Tickets are available here.