Sometimes, trying to avoid your fate is the very thing that leads you to it.

Full of Norse gods, giants and spirits, this is actually a very human tale of the dangers of pride albeit with a very unusual family at its core. Odin is driven to increasingly desperate measures to avoid the end of the world in Charles Way’s gripping story, deftly directed by Hal Chambers.

No matter how good he thinks his reasons, Odin’s singular vision leads him to treat those around him badly – with disastrous consequences.

The eight-strong cast were all excellent, effortlessly picking up from where they left off after the performance was briefly halted when a member of the audience was taken ill.

Antony Gabriel really captures Odin’s strengths and weaknesses; you don’t have to look too deep to see shades of contemporary world leaders in there.

Oliver Hoare stole the night though as his adopted son, the mischievous Loki; struggling with the eternal boredom immortality brings and a very fickle father.

The lord of lies is perhaps the most honest of characters and a helluva lot of fun into the bargain.

Ragnarok is visually stunning. The use of the space was inventive, the lighting and sound eerily atmospheric, the fight scenes cleverly choreographed and the puppets amazing.

If you like a good story with twists, turns, laughs and interesting characters this is for you. Follow the above links for my interview with cast members Antony Gabriel and Sarah Thom plus Andrew Clarke’s chat with writer Charles Way and director Hal Chambers.

Wayne Savage