Improbable Theatre have reinvented this spectacular film for the National Theatre in London, and in doing so created a wonderful piece of gory and glorious entertainment.

Jim Broadbent plays Edward Lionheart, a Shakespearian actor of the old school, who one year ago leapt to his death from a critics apartment after they failed to give him an actors award. However, he is not dead, and now he has lured them to an abandoned theatre in order to kill them, one by one.

Which he proceeds to do with great relish and wonderful over-acting, it must be said. Each death is based on the death of a major character in a Shakespearian play, just to add to the fun. Edward is aided in his efforts by a chorus of tramps. Why? Why not?

Peter Devlin, played by Mark Lockyer, is the critic of the seven who works out what's going on quickest of all, and engages in a battle of wits (and swords) to solve the problem.

This is thoroughly enjoyable piece of theatre. The acting is of a suitable dreadful standard, when it needs to be, and extremely enjoyable in the right places. It's also extremely funny, either watching Bette Bourne's Michael Merridew be fed his own poodle-in-a-pie, or seeing blood spurt across the back curtain as another critic is run through with a selection of spears.

The stage magic and trickery is first rate, the set is awesome, sparing no piece of grandiose machinery, and even the background music, played live, enlivens the performance.

I recommend this highly, although as noted on the National Theatre website, only for those of 14 and up should attend.