Folks of a devout disposition might find themselves feeling slightly uncomfortable with Ben Duke’s loose adaption of Milton’s masterwork. To say ‘loose’, however, does not quite do justice to the various teasing liberties taken with the original, which of course was itself merely an imaginative reconstruction of actual events. . . This is a truly original work which will charm the pants off believers and atheists alike . . .

The great, dark, looming presence of the black cross – stage height – against a blood red background seemed to herald the doing away with nods and winks as far as the play’s religious content was concerned. This was an unambiguous statement. Here was Big Brother about to do his worst.