Arts Diary: A chance to laugh and cry with Bard cry; Troilus and Cressida at Theatr Cymru.

Byline: Philip Key

ONE reference book describes it as a comedy, another as a tragedy. Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida has always confused those who like to pigeon-hole drama.

As such, the play remained unperformed for centuries, only really being rediscovered in the 20th after writer George Bernard Shaw had praised it.

Although there have been many productions since, it remains one of his lesser performed plays.

Now Mold's Clwyd Theatr Cymru is opening a new production under its artistic director, Terry Hands, the former director of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

He describes it as a tragi-comedy. ``It's a drama of man's enduring inhumanity and lust for bloody conflict, '' he explains. ``The subjects are sex and politics, war and corruption. ''

It is set during the Trojan Wars of Homer's The Iliad. But Troilus and Cressida never appeared in that version.

They were later additions in the Middle Ages, most notably by Geoffrey Chaucer in Troilus and Criseyde.

In the play, Troilus falls in love with fellow Trojan Cressida whose father has defected to the Greek camp.

But he finds that he has a love rival.

Most of Homer's leading characters make an appearance including the heroic Hector, played in this production by actor Adrian Bouchet whose career has included everything from the title role in Macbeth to the horror film Alien Vs Predator.

Hands has assembled one of the largest casts in regional theatre, a 19-strong company including many returning from previous successful plays at Mold.

Robert Perkins (Aeneas) had the leading role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Simon Armstrong (Ulysses) had the title role in Hobson's Choice and John Cording (Nestor) appeared in Brassed Off.

Daniel Hawksford and Leila Crerar are playing Troilus andCressida. The production - which will tour later - opened on Friday with previews and its official first night is tomorrow.

CAPTION(S):

Adrian Bouchet as Hector in Troilus and Cressida