First published in 1954, William Golding's masterpiece, Lord of the Flies, is a stark and deeply disturbing treatise on human nature.  Adapted for the stage by Nigel Williams, this Regent's Park Theatre production fills the Cambridge Corn Exchange with a vibrant darkness that has theatregoers catching their breath from the moment that the lights dim through to the walk or cycle home.

Following a plane crash, a group of schoolboys find themselves slowly descending into madness on a deserted island. Originally set during WWII, director Timothy Sheader and co-director Liam Steel's production never quite clearly defines its era. Holding onto bombing references while dancing to Miley Cyrus' 'Wrecking Ball', the characters, and their situation, seem set outside of time: isolated not only from the world that they once knew, but also increasingly from one another.

Funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, designer Jon Bausor and lighting designer Paul Keogan create an almost intoxicating atmosphere. The detailed set, at first organized and almost civilised, is slowly destroyed throughout the course of the production, even as the protagonist, Ralph (Luke Ward-Wilkinson) watches those around him lose themselves to the island, or be destroyed by others.  Clever design and brilliant choreography allow the actors to traverse an entire island with no significant set changes. Relying on lighting cues, and oddly chilling slow motion scenes to emphasise each new step further and further into darkness, the production manages to surprise even those literature students who have read Golding's original book over and over and over. Almost cinematic in its visual appeal, no detail in the set, costumes or props was left undone.

Anthony Roberts as Piggy, Freddie Watkins as Jack, and Keenan Munn-Francis as Simon carry their powerful and pivotal roles exceptionally well, balancing the audience between reason, evil and morality as each character spirals further and further away from the banal British schools they once inhabited.

Other than a few minor technical hiccups (the Corn Exchange Speakers aren't quite up to the volume required by the sound design), Lord of the Flies is an exceptionally produced and deeply disturbing production.  With concessions offered on the weekday matinee tickets, the Lord of the Flies is well worth both your time, and your money.

The Lord of the Flies is running at the Cambridge Corn Exchange from Tuesday 6th to Saturday 10th at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.