ONE of the far-reaching changes announced by RSC artistic director Adrian Noble last year was the establishment of an academy that would give young actors fresh from drama school their first professional stage experience.

As a result a group of talented young men and women within their first year of leaving drama school were brought together at The Other Place for 10 weeks this summer to rehearse.

The dream became a reality this week, when the inexperienced cast took to the stage of the Swan Theatre to perform King Lear, a play that appropriately examines the follies of age and the impatient demands of youth.

If this was an experiment, then it paid off handsomely.

This is an outstanding, energetic production with fine performances all round, most notably from Steven Robertson as Kent, Edward Hogg as the Fool and Ryan Kiggell as Gloucester.

There was also excellent support from Aishling Howard and Katherine Manners as wicked daughters Goneril and Regan

But the revelation was undoubtedly Nonso Anozie as Lear.

This commanding actor has maturity beyond his years and is clearly a star in the making.

The production is only at Stratford until Saturday, after which it goes on tour, but if you can get a ticket make the effort to go along - you will be impressed.

Tickets are available from the RSC box office on 01789 403403.

Review by MARK JESSOP