GAIL Blues' directorial debut for Maskers is a riveting, enthralling version of Steven Berkoff's dramatisation of Kafka's shocking story of a hard working young man who wakes up to discover he has turned into a dung beetle.

All in black, the characters act as chorus and are bathed in David Cowley's exciting lighting design which, added to the simple set, white background and restrained but effective use of music (beginning with the Faithless tune 'Insomnia') adds great intensity and atmosphere.

As the unfortunate Gregor Samsa, Jonathan Barney-Marmont creates the necessary illusion with simple body movements and his director's clever sense of space, retreating away from his horrified family, sometimes rearing up in anger or pain.

Jo Iacovou portrays Gregor's sister with great sympathy, she being the one lumbered with most of the caring duties. Sue Dashper plays Mrs Samsa with equal wit and insight, while Paul Green's playing of bewildered and threatened Mr Samsa is more down to earth, and Rob Osbourne's comically heartless Chief Clerk seems reminiscent of a Peter Cook character.

By Ham Quentin