It's the fiery death of Miss Haversham that usually defines the quality of a production of Charles Dicken's 'Great Expection'.  I've seen it done with flashing lights, a trap door, and even smoke and mirrors; but Shropshire Youth Theatre's solution to this most demanding piece of stage craft is more inventive than that.

Actor Valerie Egerton is dressed in an ancient, pure white wedding gown which cleverly mirrors her fossilized wedding cake and actually looks highly inflammable. In her darkened drawing room she moves rather too close to a table of candles. There is a fearsome whoosh and the dress lights up from the inside. Valerie's endless, energetic screams complete the illusion. It's very impressive, as are many of the performances.

Valerie's Miss Haversham is as icy as her dress, eerie and taunting, and still anguished by her lack of love. By contrast, Young Estella is dismissive about affection, vain and goading. When Ella Jones's young Estella conceitedly asks “Am I pretty, Pip?” we already know her own opinion. Both actors take manipulation to a high level.

Just before the interval, a droning sound fills the stage and, in another innovative moment of stage craft, the roles of Pip, Biddy and Estella (all now older) are taken on by new actors. Heidi MacKechnie's mature Estella is much more formidable. Her portrayal of a haughty, period lady is superb, right down to the condescending body language.

Also notable, amongst an all round strong cast, are Joe Holland as Joe Gargery, who forges a strong, touching bond with Harry Heyes' innocent young Pip. Joe Holland is a fine, unaffected actor with a strong uncomplicated stage presence; presenting a very likeable, un-driven character.

Sam Bruton's Magwitch is a very assured and unexpectedly thoughtful performance. Even when he confronts Pip on the marsh there is an air about him of the gentleman of class he eventually becomes.

Tommy Monether's black-clad and rather swarthy Mr. Jaggers delivers his challenge to Pip with bearing and authority. And I very much enjoyed Hamish Findlay's foppish Herbert Pocket. Here is a character actor who could go far! Josiah Iddon's more mature Pip is a strong, steady naturalistic centre-piece to the production, around which the second act of the play coalesces.

And when called upon to fight, the male characters really throw themselves into it! Fight choreographer Connor Monroe has them making combative moves way beyond the usual restrained fisticuffs.

It's almost as if Director Lisa Morris is presenting her 'Great Expectations' as a Victorian Ghost story. The two-level stage is dark and bare. Whatever light there is, is slanting and shadowy. The only colour comes from the ladies' and soldiers' costumes. Florence Sallin's music/sound design is brooding and controlled and, despite racing through the story, the whole production has a sedate and sinister feel.

Once again, Shropshire Youth Theatre are being ambitious - and once again they pull it off.

Reviewed by Chris Eldon Lee.

Shropshire Youth Theatre's Great Expectations continues to show at Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn until Thursday 10 April.