A MAN in a tight striped suit, corset and gold high heels sits in the seat directly in front of me. I refrain from asking him to remove the 2ft red hat on his head.

I wouldn't want to offend Dionysus, the god of wine, women and song - a heavenly chap who doesn't know the meaning of restraint. Excess is his middle name.

He had temporarily abandoned his orgy to mingle with us mere mortals in the audience. Soon he was back on stage orchestrating the merriment and mayhem.

The Bacchae is Greek tragedy that ends with a mother cradling the bloody severed head of the son she killed unaware of their relationship (but that's hardly an excuse for murder). Kneehigh Theatre give the tale a fresh, inventive spin in Emma Rice's visually and physically stunning production.

When you know that the chorus of women is played by bare-chested men in tutus, you get an inkling of the style. This is theatre where dance, drama, music, song and comedy generate surprise and excitement in equal measures.

The multi-skilled company throw themselves - literally at times - into this sometimes amazing, often emotional, always engaging theatrical experience. You probably won't have seen anything quite like it before, and certainly won't see anything quite like it for some time.

*Until October 16. Tickets 0113 213 7700.

Published: 04/10/2004