Review: 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea ****

An underwater palace, a giant squid attack, the lost city of Atlantis – is Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea the worst story to adapt for the stage?

How can you possibly recreate the excitement of underwater battles within the confines of "a wooden O"? Well, you can if you use your imagination.

John Godber takes a surprising tangent with this latest production, which is a pure piece of entertainment.

He places the hero of Verne's source novel, Professor Arronax, on a lecture tour. We become the audience in the lecture theatre and it is clear, from the moment the Prof refuses to come on stage, that this will be no ordinary lecture.

Slightly maddened, Prof Arronax takes us into his imagination and memory, to a world where we meet Captain Nemo and his famed "submersible", the Nautilus.

The action fair rattles along and this show – and that is the most appropriate word, this is not a play or a musical, although music plays a part – is packed full of adventure.

The production is helped along by some very strong performances, particularly from Heather Peace as Conseil – whom Godber has turned into a woman and given a case of unrequited love for the Prof.

Jack Brady has the stature to play Ned Land, though he himself will know his mastery of a Canadian accent is a long way off. That aside, his performance is as fun as ever and William Ilkley's Captain Nemo is captivating.

Anyone with an imagination can enjoy a show like this. The only criticism is that because it rattles along at such a pace, you end up wishing you could spend more time aboard Nemo's vessel.