GEORGE is a farm labourer in Yorkshire acting in a local production of the York Mystery Plays. John is a young, middle class director up from London to work on the staging.

Their relationship throws up matters of class, North and South, family, sexuality, the desire for change, and even the nature of art itself in Peter Gill's funny, moving and gripping play.

York Settlement Players, one of the city's amateur stage groups, has brought last year's Yorkshire premiere at Friargate Theatre to the Theatre Royal. And what a good production it is and one that will, hopefully, continue to play to the full houses it deserves.

Director Paul Osborne's beautifully-paced production contains, at the core, a pair of well-judged performances from Philip Wilkinson and Paul Toy as the men from opposing sides of the social divide whose love story is the catalyst for all the emotional anguish.

The fact that it's a gay relationship is, surprisingly, the least of their worries as John tries to persuade George to quit his rural life and come with him to the big city.

Doreen Gurrey beautifully conveys a mother's love as she feeds, clothes and sees to her son's every need. Rachel Johnson hovers in the farmhouse kitchen waiting for George to make the first move. Even his sister Barbara's warning that he's "not the marrying kind" fails to deter her.

Rachel Johnson, Keir Brown and Andy Pilliner (a scene-stealing young John) complete the excellent cast.

Until May 19. Tickets 01904-623568 or online at www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

Steve Pratt