THIS innovative concert celebrated the life and work of James Joyce, 2016 marking the centenary of the publication of his novel A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man.

The first half used the novels A Portrait and Ulysses as a narrative canvas: A Young Man’s Awakening was both dramatic and disturbing. As was the twisted The Fires Of Hell sermon by the utterly brilliant James Mcllwrath. To be sure there was light relief: Greg Pritchard, Tom Horner and Solomon Hayes as the Museyroom Ladies, a sketch pitched somewhere between Monty Python and Father Ted. Then add a brilliant beer-soaked My Girl’s A Yorkshire Girl.

What made the drama so compelling, however, was the second layer of politicisation: 1916 saw the bloody Easter Rising. The Royal bust-up was again edgy and the Rising Moon uplifting.

But the highlight of the first half belonged to Danny Baldursson whose deeply moving rendition of Croppy Boy simply breathed authenticity.

The second half, The Artist As A Young Woman (Falling), focused on the cruel mental breakdown of his daughter and "muse", Lucia. There was also a reference to Joyce’s own descent into alcoholism.

Redemption? Certainly! Act Two was full of wonderful songs, including a window into the drama from Mozart plus touching traditional songs such as Then You’ll Remember Me (Ollie Hooper & Daniel Hogan), She Moved Through The Fair (Naomi Gourley, Jenny Whittaker and Naomi Chadder) and a rousing A Nation Once Again. But it was James Mcllwrath’s deliciously bonkers Shane McGowanish performance of Finnegan’s Wake that sealed the deal.

Further performances: York Music Theatre Group present A Portrait Of The Artist, Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York,November 3 and 4 at 7.30pm. Box office: 01904 322439 or york.ac.uk/concerts/