Pericles, Prince of Tyre, must be Shakespeare's most gormless hero. He begins by falling for the daughter of King Antiochus, who has an incestuous relationship with her; and, when he penetrates their secret, has to go on the run. Later, after much incompetent sailing, he meets and marries Thaisa, princess of Pentapolis, and, mistakenly thinking she has died in childbirth at sea, chucks her overboard.

Next he gives the baby, Marina, to the envious Dionyza of Tarsus, to rear. The child gets to young womanhood before her stepmother tries to have her murdered, a fate she escapes only to be sold by pirates into a brothel. Things are at a low ebb, but the gods suddenly go into reverse gear. They zap Antiochus and daughter, preserve Marina's virtue and reunite her with dad; then send them both to Diana's temple at Ephesus to discover mum, there masquerading as a nun.

It's really a rollicking good yarn, and that's how director Gerry Stembridge has approached it in this enormously entertaining production by the Dublin Youth Theatre, here celebrating its 20th anniversary. From the start, when oneman chorus Gower, nicely played by Paddy O'Dwyer, appears as a tour guide shepherding a clutch of youths through the action, it hits a sound balance between fun and seriousness. The acting is very good indeed, with many of DYT's past pupils, now established actors, returning for the occasion. David Parnell is a handsome, passionate Pericles; Patrick David Nolan an ebullient Simonides; Laurence Lowry a noble Helicane; Madeline Boughton the evil Dionyza; Julie Hale a sweet Thaisa; Seona Ni Bhriain a virtuous Marina; and Fiona O'Toole a credible bawd. The Dublin Youth Theatre has a long and enviable history of offering strong, entertaining theatre to the public while pursuing its internal objectives for the benefit of its members. The latter's loyalty and talents are on impressive display here for this shared celebration of a proud record.