Stables Youth Theatreevoke timeless tales

Yet the reason they are so successful is that director Maureen Nelson deals in archetypes and here she has played a particularly strong suite.

Unfolding before us were tales of love, loss, betrayal and hope that were often dark and uncompromising.

Transformation was a central theme in these contemporary fairy tales re-imagined by poet laureate Carole Ann Duffy.

It was an inspired choice for a production and credit to Carole Ann Duffy for granting permission to the youth group to stage her work and waiving performance rights.

Had she been there she would have been proud of the creativity and energy they brought to it.

These fairy tales ebbed and flowed like a tide driven by the restless talent of the young cast who performed them, some as young as 12 and 13.

Minimalistic sets and props actually enhanced the experience by allowing free visualisation.

Worlds and scenarios were created by the fluid actions and words of the performers.

This performance, appreciated by packed houses, provides emphatic proof of the formidable young talent we have in the area and signals a very bright future.