Lord of the Flies UK Tour

Sell a Door Theatre have been touring Scotland for a couple of years now, making a considerable name for themselves and obviously valuing the input theatre can contribute to young people's development in this country. Staging Liz Lochhead's Dracula in 2010 and then Frank Wedekind's Spring Awakening musical in the summer of this year - William Golding's classic Lord of the Flies seems the perfect choice to continue their raft of youth orientated productions.

The premise is very easy. A group of British school kids are stranded on a desert island following a plane crash that has wiped out any adult authority. The boys try to replica the society that they left behind, but soon realise that setting rules can be be more dangerous than just following command. The journey takes them to dangerous quarters, as their fragile humanity crumbles to disorganised savagery.

The Stirling MacRobert was packed full, with representatives from every corner of society this Wednesday night, as the company delivered a stunning production of the age-old tale of boys gone mad. Particular credit must be given to the 'savages', led by Mark Smedley's Jack, who delivers a fine performance as the flawed leader of the pack. Followed closely behind by David Hutchinson's unhinged Roger, and Jonathan Ashby-Rock's obedient, yet sentively portrayed Maurice - they drive the play to an unnerving climax.

Robert Sladden's Ralph seems tiny against the imposing faces of disorder, and his breakdown at the end of the play is heartbreaking - made even more so by the fantastic music composed by David Ben Shannon.

The company is touring to the Musselburgh Theatre, Paisley Arts Centre, Livingston Howden Park then Dumfries Theatre Royal before heading south of the border to delight audiences there.