AN Ellesmere Port-based theatre company has delivered a powerhouse production of one of Shakespeare's greatest works.

Chalice Productions delighted audiences with a three-night run of Hamlet, performed at Chester's Storyhouse.

Chalice’s contemporary take on Shakespeare’s classic exploration of the human condition utilised the original language of the text, but there was not a ruffle nor a codpiece in sight!

Many audience members commented they felt they had been “literally transported”, they were “captivated for the three-plus hours of the play, during which the time just flew.”

Filled with a balanced amount of pathos, humour and action (which concluded with a perfectly choreographed sword-fight in the final scene, mere feet from the audience), the play included a number of surprise twists and turns in this retelling from a company which never shies away from exploring every linguistic nook and thematic cranny.

The gender-switching of character roles didn’t stop with Polonia – now the hard-faced mother to both Ophelia and her ‘golden child’, Laertes – but included also Horatio and Hamlet herself.

These choices, whether known in advance or being a surprise to the audiences across the three nights, were very well received and, as one theatre-goer expressed: “Allowed for the relationships to be expressed and explored in a way I’ve never seen portrayed in ‘Hamlet’ before. We thoroughly enjoyed it!”

Another attendee of the final performance, Tony Grand, had purchased tickets after seeing the production advertised on the Storyhouse website and was “delighted” that he had done so, remaining behind to congratulate the performers before leaving a hugely positive review on the Chalice Productions Facebook page afterwards.

He wrote: "This performance was exceptional: ensemble playing of the highest quality, moments of unexpected but totally appropriate humour to

lighten this melancholy play.

"My friend and I had the good fortune to be able to share our experience with the cast at the end of the performance and their warmth and commitment to Chalice was a beautiful thing to take away...as well as our photo with those cast members!”

There are more opportunities to see Chalice Productions performing over the coming year.

The group returns to Chester on March 6 for one night only with an imaginative steampunk adaptation of The Tempest, before the youth group The Boaty Theatre Company take to the Storyhouse’s Garret stage (and then The Lowry, Salford) in its original take on Laura Lomas’ brand new National Theatre Connections youth play for 2019 Chaos.

For further information and updates on Chalice Productions and The Boaty Theatre Company, including joining the local youth theatre group, visit www.chalicemediagroup.com or visit the group's Facebook page Chalice Productions. Alternative, follow them on Twitter @ChalicePro and Instagram @ChaliceProductionsUK.