There’s a spectacular scale and scope to the Rose Theatre’s revival of Bertolt Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle, once a mainstay of drama groups the world over but now performed less frequently.

This is a big, bold, epic production, with the performers taking on dozens of different roles in a flurry of costume changes – some backstage, some in front of the audience.

Carrie Hope Fletcher in The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Pictures by Iona Firouzabadi

Set in a post-war Soviet Union, Steve Waters’ modern rewriting includes obvious parallels with today’s Russia and current politics, with phrases such as ‘build back better’ finding their way into the script, to knowing chortles from the stalls.

And while it is a show with humour, its underlying messages are more serious. It explores the difference between nature and nurture against a broad canvas, and layered with conflicting human emotion. It satirises corruption and questions authority.

Director Christopher Haydon was chuffed with the response on press night, squealing with delight from a seat at the back of the auditorium as the audience reacted to the monumental spectacle.

But this is also a show with some wearying repetitiveness. At three hours, it’s a huge feat of acting. Yet Bertolt Brecht’s original tug-of-love story could be condensed on the back of a fag packet.

Jonathan Slinger plays the judge… and numerous other parts

There’s a feeling of indulgence about this production, although there’s no faulting the focus of the cast, the exquisite harmony of the singing and the visual drama of the relentless rearrangement of metal bedframes which adapt to being bridges, courtrooms, platforms and fences.

Heading that high-octane cast are Carrie Hope Fletcher, Jonathan Slinger and Nickcolia King-N’Da, with Zoe West playing and singing Michael Henry’s songs, which illuminate and punctuate the action.

Just nine cast members double, treble and quadruple roles to represent all the characters; itself a triumph of organisation and co-ordination. Oli Townsend designed the set and costumes, Mark Jonathan is in charge of lighting, Gareth Fry is on sound and Lucy Cullingford directs movement.

Nickcolia King-N’Da

The Caucasian Chalk Circle runs at the Rose until October 22.  rosetheatre.org

Zoe West