WHEN I walked into the Everyman's famous in-the-round setting I thought someone had made off with the set.

Something rotten in Cyprus?

The Bard stripped bare, indeed.

Forsooth, award-winning director Gemma Bodinetz' Othello - the third in the company's 2018 season - is given the minimal approach from the design team.

Shakespeare himself helps - after all, he invented virtual reality travel centuries ago.

Here the words are the stars – the fire power used from the generally military attired eight-strong cast.

Like all great tragedies, this play covers every emotional thread from jealousy to loyalty and envy to fatal deception.

Evil intent is just a heartbeat away in this war- torn place set sometime in the near future.

Othello is a distinguished army supremo, an Iron Lady ... Moor or less.

She commands respect with a quiet dignity which is perfectly captured by accomplished actress Golda Rosheuvel.

Her face etched in deep reflection from joy to sorrow and anger and bewildered acceptance.

The idea to change the gender of Othello is typical of the ever-relevant Everyman.

Shakespeare - in their consistently imaginative, visionary hands - knows no bounds.

I can still recall one of their versions of Richard III played by skinheads.

It changed my perception of Shakespeare forever.

This Othello keeps you on your toes as you wonder just who you can trust.

Who is with honour and who is without?

Here a simple white handkerchief is a planted catalyst for unwarranted suspicion leading, as all acts of such pre-mediated folly do, to despair and disaster.

Othello is besotted with her delicate wife Desdemona of Venetian stock (Emily Hughes).

The born, charismatic leader can fight and win battles in war but when it comes to her own problems and doubts closer to home she appears like an emotional deserter.

Iago is the personification of deceit and one of literatures greatest villains. Grace-less goes he.

Patrick Brennan provides the necessary urgency when delivering his early plans.

He fires off words like bullets throughout the three-hour production where the cast work every bit as hard as the audience.

A medal for outstanding performance warranted for Cerith Flinn's confident Cassio.

Atmospheric music from Peter Coyte and spot on lighting and sound help create a cloud of consistent uncertainty.

This very modern take on Othello culminates with a death bed sequence which is visually cold and powerful as we all bear witness to the timeless fact that love takes no prisoners.

Three Stars

Tough love, Hard talk ... Total drama

The production is on until July 10.

Tickets from the Everyman box office on 0151 709 4776.