William Golding’s parable on the breakdown of society is rightly a classic, and a favourite text for youth theatre too. Here, rejecting the masculine monoculture of the original, a young mixed-gender cast from Muchmuchmore Theatre present a visually-striking interpretation, which uncompromisingly highlights the brutal heart of the plot.

Without a doubt, the ensemble’s strongest suit is their physicality. They make clever use of a pyramid of blocks at the back of the stage, ascending and descending to reflect the shifting power within the group and, later, to conjure a sense of the all-important mountain. There are a handful of spotlit moments as the actors lift and support each other, demonstrating both impeccable coordination and implicit trust. Simon’s murder is particularly cleverly and viscerally portrayed.

In comparison, the spoken delivery lacks some subtlety – a few segments are unnecessarily shouty, while other lines are underplayed and lost. But the group do deliver sensitive moments, pulling down the mood as they contemplate the war at home, or reflect on the horror their island has become. And we truly feel Jack’s descent into ferality, with symbolic pig’s blood spreading across her face as her thirst for violence grows.

Needless to say, Golding’s plot is abridged to meet the constraints of the Fringe. On the whole, the storytelling works well, particularly in showing how the group fractures and loyalties change; the slow abandonment of Ralph is an especially poignant moment. The “beast” is a more abstract concept than it is in the original, which lends an extra chill to Jack’s monologue about the power of belief, though I’m not sure it’s clear enough why Simon is targeted in this stripped-down narrative.

Overall, this is a disturbing telling of Lord Of The Flies delivered by a large, committed and well-rehearsed cast. The ensemble set-pieces are tight and impressive, and the shock at the events on the island shines through. It’s easy to picture these young performers commanding the stage in years to come.