Noughts & Crosses,Lighthouse, Poole

The Royal Shakespeare Company's new stage adaptation of Malorie Blackman's novel makes for powerful and thought-provoking theatre.

It holds a mirror up to society and the back-to-front image that it reflects highlights the intolerance, prejudice and blind anger that can destroy people, families, entire sections of society Loosely inspired by Romeo and Juliet, it focuses on Sephy and Callum, young lovers kept apart by bigotry, terrorism and injustice. Sephy is the daughter of the deputy prime minister, a member of the powerful and elite Crosses. Callum is the son of a rebel agitator from the underclass - the Noughts.

Their relationship not only threatens family loyalties but sparks a growing political crisis. This searching story of love, passion, murder, violence, desertion and disloyalty has been superbly adapted and directed by former RSC Associate Director, Dominic Cooke, now artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre.

The result is a production that addresses the shameful and destructive behavour caused by those who use race and class as weapons of political war.

It also shows how hopes and dreams can so easily dissolve into bitterness.

Noughts and Crosses was due to play Lighthouse at Poole until Saturday March 8.