Blue Beard at the Lyceum Edinburgh

Emma Rice is a force to be reckoned with.

A groundbreaking writer and director, her reworkings of traditional texts are sometimes controversial and attract mixed reviews.

But her productions are always exciting, never boring, however much she plays with the original stories.

The first half of her reimagining of Bluebeard, a folk tale dating back to 1697, had me perplexed. I didn't really know what was going on. It is a mish mash of song, dance, magic and circus acts, featuring hippy-like, bespectacled nuns from the Convent of the Fearful, F***** and Furious Convent, headed by a pint-sized but powerful, blue-bearded Mother Superior speaking like a man! Get the picture? No, neither did I! It does win my vote for its entertainment value, however. The talented troupe of actors are also accomplished singers and musicians and Mirabelle Gremaud's acrobatics are truly impressive.

The grim tale of Bluebeard, who married and then murdered his wives, is gradually revealed in the most surreal of settings, but it is the shocking ending which makes sense of the whole production and is well worth the wait for its impact.

In the Lyceum's and Wise Children's co-production with Birmingham Rep, HOME Manchester and York Theatre Royal, Wise's message eventually becomes clear: despite 'the sisterhood' fighting back and saving Blue Beard's latest wife, women should be safe in their homes and on the streets.

Image: Steve Tanner

Blue Beard is at the Lyceum Edinburgh until March 30. It then continues touring:

Apr 9-20: Birmingham Rep

Apr 23-May 18: Battersea Arts Centre

Box Office: 0131 248 4848

lyceum.co.uk