A Matter of Life and Death, Headgate Theatre, Colchester.

WELL here's a lovely little treat brightening up the stage at the home of Colchester's Community Theatre.

And rather wonderfully it neatly sums up everything that is great about local theatre in our town at the moment.

First of all there's the choice of production, not your normal run-of-the mill local theatrical fair, inspired by one of the greatest films to come out of the Forties brought up to date by Tom Morris, he of War Horse fame, and Emma Rice, she of cutting edge Kneehigh Theatre fame.

Telling the story of a Second World War pilot, who misses his official date with heaven, and then falls in love, director Paul T Davies stays true to the adventurous spirit of Morris and Rice's National Theatre production with some gorgeous touches of his own. Those include a little model of the town where the figures of people are pushed around like planes and troops in a map room and a table tennis match that is literally out of this world.

Then there's the musical interludes, a little Dennis Potter in their stylisation and beautifully done, although I'm still not sure about Robbie Williams' Angels.

And finally there's the quality of the acting.

Two magnificent leads in Chris Smith and Emily-May Hyde supported by a cracking ensemble including some wonderful new talent to enjoy in Phil Cory and Michael Cook, and some familiar faces such as James Potter and Leanne Howard.

If ever there was a show which demonstrated the rich vein of theatrical magic we are enjoying at the moment - then this is it.

NEIL D'ARCY-JONES