The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertold Brecht is running at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum theatre in a translation by Alastair Beaton.

My feelings about Brecht are always over-shadowed by the horrors of Mother Courage, but I was delightfully surprised by this production of The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Loud music and raised voices from the off settle into a very human tale of how the ordinary person copes in stressed times.

What would you do when a baby cries?

The central story of Grusha captivates us and Amy Manson, previously seen at the Lyceum in Six Characters in Search of an Author, is a most watchable actor. The large ensemble cast move seamlessly from word to instrument, from good character to bad. One of them even plays a horse and as such gets the biggest laugh of the night – I won’t spoil it for you.

The baby whose existence is central to the plot is entertainingly portrayed by puppeteer Adam Bennett.

The questions Brecht asks us to consider are as present now as they’ve ever been.

Run continues until 14th March. Get your tickets here.