TURNING Greek Mythology into a British street gang drama, writer Roy Williams has produced a play for our time that eavesdrops on Sophocles’ original story – his characters, ghosts from another era.

The all-powerful gang leader and control freak Creo (Mark Monero) arrives on stage and curls up as if to sleep. A cacophony of noise and people cause pandemonium and as the melee clears – Creo has got up and is watching – he must relive the errors of his actions – every night forever.

There is a body on the floor, the dead body of Orrin, Antigone’s battle-torn brother. She wants to cover him but Creo says he must be left in the street and leaves his soldiers to guard the body. The fight for respect and honour begins. The stars of this production are designer Joanna Scotcher’s amazing urban roadscape set, Alexandra Staffords’ imaginative lighting and Sandy Nuttgens’ thunderous music.

I enjoyed Gamba Cole’s captivating Eamon, son of Creo and boyfriend to Antigone (Savannah Gordon-Liburd). Doreene Blackstock gives us a stunning performance as Eunice, Creo’s wife and Oliver Wilson plays a blinder as the truth telling raster prophet Tyrese.

The street language, mostly shouted, is tough to tune into and Pilot Theatre director, Marcus Romer, appears to like all his action to stage left. Unfortunately, I was on the other side, and from where I was sitting, a huge pillar blocked my view of up stage, so I did miss quite a bit of the action.

Creo comes on stage at the end, he curls up as if to sleep... and I got to take my headache (too loud for me) home.

Runs until Saturday. Box Office: 0191-230-5151 or northernstage.co.uk