AN all-male cast performing Shakespeare. Now where have we heard that idea before?

Edward Hall's Propeller company brought their men-only production of The Winter's Tale to Malvern last week and proved, if proof were needed, that audiences will suspend disbelief until it screams for mercy provided the acting and script are top quality.

Winter's Tale is a soaring play, written in the last years of Shakespeare's career and showing all the confidence of a writer who knew he could go anywhere and do anything.

To capture the romantic fantasy while retaining the fascinatingly real characters is a challenge but Edward Hall, son of Sir Peter, founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company, brings an assured touch to the interpretation and the play is framed in a wonderful fantasy set with lots of silver-grey and black.

And the women? Simon Scardifield as Hermione did full justice to the trial scene, when she is publicly humiliated by her insanely jealous husband Leontes, and Adam Levy was a strong and courageous Paulina.

Review by STEVE EVANS.