The audience are pigs in this place. We are herded behind several troughs within which we are introduced to Pavel Navrotsky, a soldier in the Soviet army. He deserted during the winter of 1943 because a pair of red and gold slippers enticed him home and has been hiding in his pigsty for 10 years. His wife, Praskovya, copes with Pavel's self-incarceration by being unable (or unwilling) to understand his reasoning and the effect of his predicament.

As the play progresses, Pavel is transformed from being a cowardly, pathetic creature to a pig, wallowing naked in the mud. His place with the pigs finally brings the realisation that he is swine, whining and grovelling in self-pity, and it is he who must redeem himself and accept he is a criminal.

This production uses the venue inventively, transforming the narrow space into a claustrophobic pigsty with the help of suffocating blocking. Director Jo Mangan transfers the action cleverly to the outside of the building twice during the play, to show us just how refreshing the freedom Pavel yearns for actually is. Deft changes in lighting punctuate the changing atmosphere.

When released into the open for the final moments, delivered over a speaker, some of us pigs were agitated by the move, which distracted slightly from the touching finale. But when Pavel finally emerges repentant from his incarceration, we simultaneously applaud the character's decision and touching performances from Pepe Roche and Lynda Gough who play the husband and wife credibly and honestly.

Until September 18th; booking on 01-6713387