Review: Superb take on Greek gods’ tale by Warwick’s Playbox

She Who Shines tells the story of Persephone, daughter of the god of the harvest Demeter.

Like many an offspring, she is being groomed for a future career, in this case as wife of another god. But Persephone has other ideas, and wants to make her own choices. Curious, one day she steps out into the big bad world from which she has been protected, only to be seized by Hades, god of the underworld, and taken down to hell. In a ruse to force the other gods to get off their backs and do something, Demeter brings eternal winter to the earth.

In this revisionist version, Hades has a heart made weary by contact with human wickedness. For him Persephone represents light, hope, beauty; things which are in short supply down there.

And she, being a tender soul, can see his good side. But Persephone is no pawn. The price of her love is the freedom to choose, and so she forces a deal. Thus the cycle of the seasons is born.

As always, the production at Playbox is superb. Lily Lesser (Persephone) and Sam Knights (Hades) are light and shade itself; and Emma Bleckley-Piech as Demeter is magnificent in her mother’s anguish and rage. Outstanding in this star-filled firmament are Alice Woodhouse and Georgia Moorhouse, who as writers and directors have crafted a witty and tender show that brings credit to their fellow Playbox alumni, here returning to the stage for a one-off resurrection of last year’s hit.

My only regret is that it isn’t running for longer.

Nick Le Mesurier