Richard Stilgoe is a man known for his prolific career in the media, from his work on the lyrics to Phantom of the Opera to various shows on Radio 4. Less is known nationally about his commitment to local project The Orpheus Centre in Godstone, which provides support for disabled students and builds their confidence through performing arts. Having heard of the wonderful work of the Orpheus Centre before, my wife and I were excited to have the chance to see their latest production of Orpheus the Mythical, which was shown at Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. I am pleased to say we were not disappointed. The plot moved along swiftly and there was much to keep us entertained, from the gutsy performances from students of the Orpheus Centre alongside members of the Guildford School of Acting, to the vein of humour that ran throughout.

Both leads performed exceedingly well, but this was in truth an ensemble piece with each person getting their chance to shine. Director Syd Ralph has been fearless in commanding the performances, ensuring each actor is best placed to show their individual talents. Luke Tye and Sandra Gayer, for example, must be commended for their singing, which was spectacular Orpheus the Mythical Review by Rich Cobbold throughout. Credit too must go to the writer Richard Stilgoe himself. Apart from a rousing score, he managed to lyrically combine the modern with the legends, making comparisons between the three-headed dog Cerberus and insuranceselling dog Churchill. Anyone brave enough to include a rap song that rhymes 'Euridice' with 'Bob Marley', all while being translated into sign language, is sure to make me very excited to see what this talented group does next. For more information about the Orpheus Centre and volunteering opportunities visit www.orpheus. org.uk