A timely cultural refresher

The central theme of each fantastical tale in the classic collection of stories The Thousand And One Nights is the struggle for survival.

The central character Sheherazade's attempts to dodge the executioner's axe show us that stories can entertain. But they are also crucial in opening communication and understanding between people.

At a time when fundamentalist and 'with us or against us' attitudes are clouding relations between Islamic and Christian cultures, such stories are more vital than ever, and that's the key to Northern Stage's ambitious project to create a modern version.

A group of migrant workers in a Christmas decorations factory somewhere in Britain entertain each other with tales, both real and make-believe. The stories have been contributed by eight prominent Middle Eastern writers and are invigoratingly varied although, inevitably, the whole is a rather sprawling affair.

In separate stories, our modern day Sheherazade is variously detained and humiliated at airport security because she wears the veil; pushed to breaking point by faithless, violent men; and unable to deny her lesbianism despite the punishments she knows are in store (the last a gradually darkening piece written and entertainingly performed by stand-up comic Shazia Mirza).

Around her, four men under interrogation reveal radically different views on Islam, while another ponders the concept of time in fiction and reality, noting that in the original stories there is no mention of the days.

The strongest tales are Maziar Bahari's adaptation of his play Romance In Abu Ghraib, performed with real emotion by Kourosh Asad, and the message from a suicide bomber to his young daughter, contributed by Reza Parsa and Johan Bergman Lindfors, which packs a tremendous punch.

The eight performers handle this diverse material well and director Alan Lyddiard makes full use of a busy - occasionally distractingly busy - stage. There's an unavoidable lack of coherence which makes for a long evening, but 1001 Nights Now is definitely an alternative Christmas message.

Until Sat, Albany Theatre, Douglas Way SE8, 8pm, £9, £6 concs. Tel: 020 8692 4446. Tube: New Cross

1001 Nights Now