This imaginitive play tells the true story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs - a group of Dorset farm labourers who were wrongly convicted and transported to Australia in 1834, after forming a trade union to fight against a succession of wage cuts.

It was performed by just two actors - Neil Gore and Elizabeth Eves, who portrayed the leader of the matyrs George Loveless and his wife Betsy, along with a series of other characters, with warmth, wit and conviction.

Eves was particularly impressive, switching seamlessly from the determined working class wife, to a traitorous local layabout, nasty landowner and corrupt magistrate.

Gore, who wrote the play, managed to convey complex legal and social issues without ever comprimising on drama and entertainment. This was achieved through a combination of amusing projected images, snappy dialogue, slick verse and powerful folk songs.

The music, arranged by revered folk singer and squeezebox player John Kirkpatrick, was a particular highlight. Gore's and Eves' voices harmonsied perfectly and they provided all their own accompaniment on a succession of instruments including the fiddle, accordian, bodhran and what looked like a bazzouki.

The harsh punishment handed to father-of-three George Loveless and his fellow matyrs resulted in a massive protest sweeping across England, which saw thousands of people march through London, and an 800,000-strong petition delivered to Parliament.

This eventually led to the men returning home with free pardons and inspired the establishment of the union movement across South West England.

George and Betsy were portrayed as humble and dignified even in their moment of triumph, which sets a good example in an age where bluster and empty rhetoric are often viewed as more important than achieving anything of true worth.

It was good to be reminded that ordinary but principled people - who were motivated only by the desire to do the right thing - can achieve great things.

This innovative and powerful show is well worth catching at matinee and evening performances in the Palace Theatre, London Road, Westcliff, today (Thursday, September 12)) and across the country during a national tour.

Paul Offord