THE major staff-directed production of the year in the University of York's department of theatre, film and television takes place until Sunday in the black box studio.

Under the direction of Michael Cordner, students present John Dryden's 17th century Restoration comedy Amphitryon, one of the most popular English stage plays from its premiere in 1690 right through to the early 19th century.

In Restoration days, productions "exploited the machinery of that era's stage to spectacular, dramatic effect, with gods descending in chariots". "Our show sets out to achieve a modern equivalent by using the full resources of all the technical disciplines, from theatre, through film and television, to computer design, which are gathered together in my department," says Cordner.

"Our set and lighting designer, Roberto del Pino, has also produced a unique set, on a raked stage, and designed with the special effects we are deploying carefully in mind. The result will, we hope, be both eye-catching and genuinely innovative."

Dryden's play tells the story of Jupiter satisfying his love for Alcmena, the wife of the Theban general Amphitryon, by appearing to her in the bodily form of her husband, in order to seduce her. "So she commits adultery innocently and, as a result of Jupiter's ruse, the lives of all the human figures in the play are totally re-ordered, and some of them turned irretrievably awry," says Cordner.

"It's a brilliantly funny script, which turns darker as it proceeds, and we'll be using songs from the original score by Purcell, as well as compositions by Odinn Orn Hilmarsson."

Principal roles in Cordner's cast go to Ben Kawalec as Jupiter, King of the Gods and Master of the Universe; Harriet Patten-Chatfield as Alcmena; Thomas Leadbeater as Amphitryon; Chris Casbon as Phoebus, Sun God and son of Jupiter, and Audun Krüger Abrahamsen as Mercury, God of thieves and tricksters and son of Jupiter. Helena Daffern plays The Spirit Singer; Zach Pierce, Grippus, the corrupt judge.

Joining Cordner, del Pino and Hilmarsson in the production team are visual effects designer Paul Ryan, sound designer Mariana Lopez and costume designer Amy Rhianne Milton.

"This show is a major departure from the styles of our recent productions, founded on a partnership of expertises which only a gathering of skills of the kind we have in TFTV could deliver," concludes Cordner.

Tickets for the 7.30pm performances are or on sale at tftv.ticketsolve.com/shows/873574214