Just a few days ago I saw again the lavish Burton-Taylor movie Cleopatra. Only last month came Northern Ballet’s highly charged and erotic version of the Egyptian queen’s story. How would performing arts students from Oxford and Cherwell Valley College measure up against these glittering productions?

It would not be reasonable to expect the same standards, but in a show that they wrote themselves, they manage to tell a complex story, and put flesh on the dead queen’s bones — quite a lot actually, as the title role is played by five performers. In order not to confuse the audience, Cleopatra is identified by the passing on of two gigantic jewelled bracelets.

The piece starts with the cast, mainly girls, chanting and humming, while first one, then another, gives us the background history. This device is used a lot during the show, and works well, with those not involved in the action working as a kind of Greek chorus. The story takes us through Cleopatra’s affair with Caesar, (Harriet Yardley), and his murder; her love for Mark Antony, her visit to Rome, the vengeance of Mark Antony’s wife Octavia, and Cleo’s death at the hands of an asp (if you follow me).

We travel on Cleopatra’s ship, cleverly depicted using hanging drapes as sails, with the cast lined up below as rowers. We are present at a council of Roman senators as they discuss politics, and we are kept well in touch with the motives of all the characters. Lawrence Prestidge is a tall and handsome Mark Antony, but needs to acquire the erect posture and confident movements of a noble Roman.

All in all, this is an enjoyable show which highlights the talents of the cast, and here and there also displays their shortcomings. But, as a young ensemble, they can be proud of what they have achieved.