York theatre company Actors Of Dionysus have found startling modern parallels in an ancient Greek play, reports CHARLES HUTCHINSON

SMOKE is billowing from the set as York classical Greek theatre company Actors of Dionysus rehearses its new touring show, Trojan Women, in York Theatre Royal's rehearsal rooms in Walmgate.

No one is alarmed, because smoke is the new ingredient in the work of a company known for assailing all the senses.

"The stage will smoke, make noises and have its own music," says director David Stuttard. "We've commissioned a special soundscape from Hannah Quinn, who took sound recordings of the actors speaking and singing and making sounds on the set, and then digitally manipulated them to create a sound as if the earth was exhaling, contributing to a feeling of a world in decay and not only that a city has been destroyed. The whole environment is becoming degraded."

The city in question is Troy but inevitably New York, September 11 springs to mind, a link that will be strengthened by the production's modern setting.

"Here is a play about the destruction of a proud city, famed for its towers, destroyed by a missile in the form of a wooden horse packed with men who shattered a whole way of life," says David.

"Greek tragedies take episodes like that which, just like September 11, are so difficult to get your head round and they give some sense to the senselessness," says David. "In this case, the play is about how the human spirit can transcend disaster and bring a sense of optimism when identity has been wiped away.

"Even though all the young men of Troy have been butchered, and the women are in such adversity, it's not all weeping and wailing. These are feisty women determined to keep their spirits up."

Actors of Dionysus last staged Euripides's fifth century play five or six years ago, and the company had already settled upon doing a new production in 2002 when the apocalyptic events of September 11 gave new focus to David Stuttard's new adaptation.

"I was writing it in the autumn just when the war against terrorism was in its initial stage, very raw, and none of us knew what would happen - and so we were in the same position as the women of Troy," he says.

"The implications of this great world event were only just unfolding, and we had no idea how many other cities or buildings would be targeted - just as there was that edginess that if Troy could fall so easily, overnight, what hope was there?

"As the events unfolded, so did the adaptation, and they had a considerable impact on my writing."

For Trojan Women, David is working in tandem with voice coach Susan Stern and his co-artistic director, Tamsin Shasha, who takes a break from performing to be in charge of movement alongside Marcello Magni, founder member of Theatre de Complicit. Rehearsals are nearing completion, in preparation for a tour that opens on Tuesday and runs until May 21.

The itinerary incorporates the company's first ever performances at York Theatre Royal, in The Studio from March 12 to 16.

"For three or four years, we've been rehearsing in the Theatre Royal facilities, and it was a mutual decision to now have us perform at the theatre as well, as we have a growing relationship," says David. "We've performed in high-profile theatres in other cities and it feels good to be doing that in our home city because there are still so many people in York who haven't heard of the Actors of Dionysus, even though we've always performed our plays in the city.

"We'd like to have a much higher profile, to build up relationships with other institutions in the city and further our education and outreach work. I believe that Actors of Dionysus has a lot to offer to the benefit of the community and hopefully the Studio shows are a step towards being able to do that."

With attendances on the rise for the only company in Britain specialising in new productions of ancient plays, David Stuttard is more convinced than ever by the abiding power of Greek drama. "The Greeks were very enthusiastic about their tragedy: it wasn't a depressing experience at all but, rather, an imaginative exploration of the failings of mankind, and highly exhilarating. Audiences are finding it just as rewarding today," he says.

Put another way, Ancient Greece is the word.

Actors of Dionysus, Trojan Women, on tour from January 29 to May 21, including The Studio at York Theatre Royal, March 12 to 16. Box office: 01904 623568.

Updated: 09:53 Friday, January 25, 2002