BERTHOLD Brecht has three questions on his mind in The Good Person Of Szechwan.

How can you be good when everybody is trying to rip you off? How can you protect yourself against those you love as well as those you fear? Are people vicious by nature or is society to blame?"

Does another night of heavy Brechtian moralising lie in store in a play set in an inner city blighted by poverty and drugs? Not so, say Graham Sanderson and Sue Skirrow, who are co-directing next week's production by the York Settlement Players.

"It's a funny and ironic play," says Sue. "We didn't know it would be as funny as it's turning out."

"You can get a sharp message out of theatre and be humorous at the same time," suggests Graham. "This play is nasty, moving, and yet at the same time very funny."

The directors are working with a cast of 17 led by Alan Booty, Ruth Ford (pictured left) and Julia Gregory as the Three Gods, who must find a good person to prove that their commandment that people should live good lives can be carried out.

"Part of the humour is that they come on arguing and continue to argue throughout," says Graham. "They really bring that out."

The Good Person Of Szechwan, York Settlement Players, Friargate Theatre, York, March 17 to 20, 7.30pm. Tickets: £6.50, ring 0845 961 3000.

Updated: 15:53 Thursday, March 11, 2004