STAGE REVIEW: Snow in Midsummer - at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until March 25, 2017.

CLASHING cymbals, crashing chords and a pounding drum beat all added to the wonderful atmosphere of this magical reworking of one of China’s most famous classical dramas.

It’s clearly a case of east meets west as Guan Hanquing’s story time-shifts from when it was first written around the 1300s to today, and to where a remote and ravaged town sees its inhabitants staring deep into the pits of despair because of a curse.

Although a contemporary re-imagining after centuries of retelling, it is still a tale of morals, betrayal and revenge. All are at the very core of this ‘haunting’ and moving story which resonates today through some of the ills that beset the world in countries where there are wars, famine and corruption.

Playwright Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig’s fresh adaptation, together with director Justin Audibert’s efforts, have managed to pump fresh life into this ancient story in which a young widow Dou Yi (Katie Leung) is executed for a murder she did not commit.

She vows that if she is innocent, snow will fall in midsummer and a catastrophic drought will strike.

Three years after the widow’s death - in front of a firing squad - a businesswoman, Tianyun (Wendy Kweh), visits the parched, locust-plagued town to take over a factory in New Harmony that is well and truly on its uppers.

There’s little harmony to life in this place!

The new factory owner’s young daughter is tormented by the angry spirit of Dou Yi, which eventually forces her to expose the injustices that helped create the curse in order to save the town and its inhabitants from destruction.

Katie Leung, who many will recognise from her appearances in the Harry Potter films, impresses as the troubled ghost, while the other leading lady, Wendy Kweh, is a suitably sparky and hard-bitten business leader.

Three young actresses are taking it in turn to play the factory owner’s daughter and last night it was Emily Dao. Considering this is her professional stage debut it was a confident and accomplished offering of grace and suitable innocence.

And there are eye-catching performances too from the homosexual lovers, Handsome Zhang (Colin Ryan) and Rocket Wu (Andrew Leung). In fact the small cast of 13 worked well as a whole. There may have been a minor blemish here and there, but overall they ensured the wheels of industry remained on track.

Snow in Midsummer is the first production in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Chinese Translations Project, a cultural exchange bringing Chinese classics to a modern western audience.

The play is based on the original 13th century work called The Injustice Don to Dou E.

This modern interpretation does contain some strong language, scenes of violence and those of a sexual nature, all of which a mature audience can cope with but they’re not for the very young. It’s all balanced out though by tender moments of love and regret, and a clever sprinkling of humour.

Hanquing was one of China’s most revered and colourful playwrights and this scrumptiously excellent rework offers the sound advice that not only do you need a good head for business, you also need plenty of ‘heart’ - especially if it’s not your own.

A Chinese classic that provides a perfect take-away!

**Running time for this show is 2hrs 25mins, including the interval.