One of the main challenges faced by fringe companies is trying to create a piece of theatre quick enough to fit into a traditional 1 hour slot. Apricot Theatre has risen to the challenge by attempting to shoehorn Webster's Jacobean epic, which can run as long as three hours, into one hour 15 minutes. And they make a fine job of it.

The Duchess of Malfi is one of the most well known Jacobean plays, focusing on forbidden marriage, deception and murderous plot. It is a wonderful, macabre story which was performed brilliantly by this young, energetic company.

Taking the form of a Victorian musical, the company creates a dark carnival-esque atmosphere in which they weave their tale. There are many fine moments in this production, although the story is somewhat left behind due to some very savage cutting. We do not get to see the full build up and all the motives that are behind the mass carnage at the end of the play, but apart from that there are some fine touches in an overall excellent production.

Amongst the performances most notable were Mark Edel-Hunt's portrayal of the waiting woman Cariola, a performance that could easily have fallen into stereotypical pantomime dame acting. Other stand-outs in a fine cast were the mischievous and impish Gillian Bayes as the murderer Bosola and Robert Leigh's larger than life Ferdinand, full of rage and hatred towards any who stand in his way.

Apricot theatre proclaim in their mission statement that the audience is the most important thing to them, and if the reception they received at the curtain call is anything to go by, then they have succeeded magnificently.