"Medea" by Euripides in a version by Ben Power.

Nottingham Lace Market Theatre.

This play, and the research for this play, has been a real joy for me. As a child I can remember watching the film "Jason and the Argonauts" and loving the film and the wondrous story. "Medea" takes up the story from where the film ends and what I loved was that the preceding story was played out in puppetry form.

Medea is the Greek Goddess who, with her magical powers, helped Jason to steal the the Golden Fleece from her father, King Aeetes. She falls in love with Jason, marries him and bears him two children in exile, but he turns his back on her for another woman, and she is in danger of losing him and her children. The action all takes place on the day of the wedding to Jason's new love.

You'll have heard of the old adage about a woman being scorned, well Medea is scorned. You may also have heard the song "What A Difference A Day Makes", well a day is all Medea needs to unleash her wrath! She is told by Kreon, Jason's proposed Father-in-Law, and the King, that he is scared of her magic and what she may do to him and his family, so is banishing her.

She begs for 24 hours' grace to collect her belongings and to arrange things for herself and her two sons. But Medea has other plans which do not include what she has told Kreon.

Kathryn Edwards plays Medea. This is one hell of a performance. The passion, the anger, the flip flopping of emotions. The performance is everything that I love about Shakespeare's "Scottish play" but set in a Greek setting. Kathryn had my heart going throughout the play and her final decision to really hurt Jason sent my heart into my throat. Kathryn reached down my throat and wrenched at my heart with this performance. I can imagine that at the end of every show, she herself is drained, as that was how I felt just watching her. An incredible acting tour de force.

David Field plays Jason. I last saw David playing the title role in "The Elephant Man" at the Lace Market Theatre so I know what a brilliant physical actor he is. In Act Two he drenches the audience with emotion when he discovers what Medea has done and you can feel the pain, which starts with a gutteral shout for Medea. From then on, he lays bare his feelings in one of the most emotional scenes I've seen from a male actor in a very long time.

Kimberley Wells portrays Medea's Nurse, who also acts as narrator, bookending the play, setting the scene as well as finalising the story.

David Hawley plays Kreon, Jack Leo plays Aegeus, Lydia Daniel is the Attendant who also gets to deliver a heart-felt piece, Elizabeth Gilder, Clare Moss, Fiona Trezidder and Sarah Taylor are the Chorus. A nice mix of favourites and new members.

The two children are depicted by puppets, and you really believe in these children, which is due to the talents of the puppeteers. the interaction with the children and Medea is really touching.

Directed by Nik Hedges, who also designed the wonderful set. It's the first thing that you see when you walk into the auditorium and it transports you to a Grecian plaza. The marble, the plants and the white masonry and stones create just the right feeling for the play. Nik has brought out every ounce of drama from the characters, especially Jason and Medea.

The first act, which lasts an hour seemed to last a fraction of that due to the way you invest in this wonderful piece of theatre. Nik shies away from depicting the gore, leaving us to use our imagination, but instead shows the more macabre feel of Medea's actions.

The lighting design is by Hugh Philip, guiding us to every highlight in the story and then dimming to bring our emotions back down.

Sound design, as well as the projection used here is by Matthew Allcock, and this area was spectacular. The subtle soundscape was crystal clear; the bird song, the weather and the music choices were perfectly placed and executed.

The original National Theatre production soundtrack, created by Goldfrapp was replaced by a modern collection of music pieces which seemed to highlight the more sinister and macabre as opposed to Goldfrapp's more dramatic music.

It's not every day that you see Greek tragedy on local stages, so take this opportunity to experience this wonderful story and the wonderful and powerful presentation. I left the theatre feeling quite breathless, as if I'd been witness to an actual murder, it's that powerful and passionate, and that is due to the sharp direction and the incredibly passionate acting of the two leads and the rest of the cast.

"Medea" is at the Nottingham Lace Market Theatre until Saturday 15 October.