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British Touring Shakespeare, this hard-working and innovative young troupe, is currently touring the castles and stately homes of some of the leafy purlieus of England, winning acclaim with this tailored, slightly truncated version of Romeo and Juliet.

Tabley House, a beautiful Palladian structure from the 1760s, provided an open air atmosphere breathtakingly dramatic, as dusk fell and shadows lengthened in perfect harmony with the unfolding of the tragic events. The forecourt before the huge portico made a natural stage, framed by two curved staircases at either end, leading up to what might have been designed for Juliet’s balcony.

Clementine Croft as the tender Juliet delighted the audience almost as much as the eye of Romeo, who was played in no effete manner by Chris Chambers. They looked good together, their chemistry was right and when they kissed for the last time had this ancient house ever witnessed a more poignant stretched second?

This was in every way an economical but reflective and romantic affair for which director Una Buckley and producer Andrew Hobbs - also doubling as the willing Benvolio and the haughty Paris - deserve full credit. They took some liberties, it has to be said, but got away with them. The fights were perfunctory affairs, over before they had started, which is not to take anything away from Gareth Rubin who made a suitably menacing Tybalt.

And, oh yes, Mercutio was a woman, played to perfection as a jesting virago by Alison Playford, the star of the show, who also excelled as the Nurse.

The sky was pitch-black when the monument scene arrived. The great house had been swallowed up, apart from the weirdly floodlit pillars of the portico, which had become a shadowy Greek temple. It did not seem to matter that Paris did not show at all or Robert Paul’s diffident Friar failed to return. We were witnessing tragedy at its best, alfresco and with the pungency of the night.

Andrew Liddle, The Stage

This production of Shakespeare's romantic comedy is bang up to date and so well performed that all of it is instantly understandable and often hilarious, full of visual gags. We are treated, for example, to the long suffering maid Lucetta (delightfully played by Una Buckley) idly leafing through the pages of Hello magazine and pointing out the latest cod piece fashions.

Facsimile Productions have created a pacy, exciting Two Gentlemen of Verona that would be a great introduction to Shakespeare for the jaded young people of today. This is Shakespeare with a swing.

Julia Hickman, Theatreworld

Rarely do we get to see such committed and robust theatre in this neck of the woods. This is Shakespeare as he himself would recognise it - more please!

Sue Ambrose-Simpson, Norwich

Splendid...a rare treat

Torquay Herald Express

A selection of fine performances...a wealth of talent

Herts Advertiser