ACTORS of Dionysus, modern specialists in ancient Greek drama, left York for Brighton in May. They return next week with their name slimmed to the acronym of AOD but not reduced in any other way.

"The move has gone brilliantly. It's been very positive," says co-artistic director Tamsin Shasha, adding hastily: "But we're very much looking to coming back to York to premiere our new show!"

That production, in lean and typically experimental trim, is a 70-minute version of Euripides's drama Electra by Tamsin's fellow artistic director, David Stuttard.

Now deep into rehearsal at Eastbourne College, AOD journey north next Monday to present Electra in The Studio at York Theatre Royal from Tuesday to Saturday.

Euripides's darkly psychological study of a woman's obsession with her murdered father and her quest for retribution presents its characters not as mythical heroes, but as flawed human beings.

When Electra's brother returns unexpectedly from exile, the stage is set for her endgame but vengeance has its price. How can there be closure if, to avenge your father's death, you must first kill your mother?

Electra may be heavy Greek in the new age of heart-warming comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but there is room for both on your Greek culture shopping list next week. "Is there any resolution to Electra? Do they make a journey that ends in something positive? Being Greek tragedy, probably not, but it's an amazing piece of psychological drama!" says Tamsin, who staged her own production of the play this summer in Greece.

For AOD, she is choreographing the actors' movement in this physically and mentally demanding play, while David Stuttard, as ever, is directing the Greek strained relationships. This production team is working with a cast entirely new to AOD: Charlotte Pyke, straight out of LAMDA drama school, is playing the title role; Jeremy Edwardes is Orestes; Adele Lynch, Clytemnestra; Patrick, Electra's husband The Peasant and The Professor.

With new faces, a new home and a newly refurbished company van too, AOD are chasing new Greek peaks.

- Electra, Actors of Dionysus, The Studio, York Theatre Royal, September 24 to 28. Performances: 7.45pm, plus 1.45pm next Wednesday, 2.45pm next Saturday. Box office: 01904 623568.

Updated: 09:03 Friday, September 20, 2002