Adapted for the stage by Leslie Darbon

COLWALL Players provided an unusual opportunity to watch Sophocles's Antigone last week, in a production full of verve and pace. Nigel Turner's production, using Seamus Heaney's adaptation, brought this difficult Greek drama to life.

Colwall Village Hall lent itself well to the columned set, designed and built by Iain Young. The show was sensitively lit by David Lee, and the audience was well served by the semi-circular arrangement of the seating, which ensured a close view of the stage for everyone.

As with much classical Greek drama, the chorus is the dominant element, played by all the cast members with skill and clarity. The players wore dungarees of various colours as Chorus, and added a distinguishing costume for their named parts - a device that clearly brought out the foundation role of the chorus.

Claire Revitt brought courage and vulnerability to her role as Antigone and Lee Farley exactly captured the powerful menace and then the grief of Creon.

Steve Burford gained the audience's sympathy as Creon's son Haemon and the father/son conflict worked well. The difficult role of Tiresias, the blind seer whose prediction turns the play, was convincingly played by Dianne Lloyd; and Sue Jago brought a credible, affectionate maturity to the role of Ismene, using her fine vocal range. Eurydice's grief was tangible in her portrayal by Angela Meredith and Joe Herron and Mike Fray were both aggressive and then servile as the guards. The Messengers, Duncan Lewis and Jane Herron, gave spirited performances.

The pace never faltered and the audience was involved throughout. A fine production; I had to see it twice! .

Mary Constable