IN recent weeks the Royal Shakespeare Company has been criticised as much for its on-stage performances as its off-stage redevelopment plans.

The good news for departing artistic director Adrian Noble is that the company's latest production of Antony and Cleopatra at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford is a sure-fire hit that should dispel such carping - at least for the time being.

The evening belongs to its star, Sinead Cusack, whose dazzling performance, sometimes petulant, often manipulative and always sexy, carries all before her.

It is no wonder Stuart Wilson's Antony, a man in suffering the midlife crisis to end all midlife crises, should fall at her feet, and in so doing destroy an empire.

Director Michael Attenborough sets a cracking pace and manages to make almost three hours hours fly by.

The set design by Es Devlin is superb, with clever use of light and sound creating a palpable sense of difference between the eastern steaminess of Egypt and the western discipline of Rome.

Those with a nervous disposition be warned: the sudden explosions of sound in the battle scenes had quite a few people jumping out of their seats.

This is the sort of exciting theatre that lives in the memory for a very long time.

Antony and Cleopatra is in repertory at the RST until July 13. Box office 01789 403403.

Review by Mark Jessop