There is something wonderfully exciting about seeing The Royal Shakespeare Company perform in a sports centre.

The waft of chlorine as you pre-order your interval drinks, the sight of men in tracksuits ducking in and out of conversations about the Ides Of March and the odd blend of Lynx and Chanel hanging in the air.

It reminds you that once theatre has escaped from the confines of a specialist venue, it feels all the more adventurous and unpredictable.

Director David Farr uses the element of surprise to shock us with a raucous beginning to his hard-hitting production of Julius Caesar.

Everyone jumps as Caesar and his entourage burst onto the stage loud, powerful and all-consuming.

Neon lights flicker overhead, electricity crackles unnervingly and hand-held lamps illuminate the faces of those engaged in the battle for power and freedom.

Farr establishes parallels with modern society by setting the play in the harsh mafia underworld of contemporary Russia. Wine is replaced with vodka, robes are replaced with black leather jackets and gold chains and Big Brother-style video screens pack a cinematic punch.

Using scaffolding as a climbing frame, a small but formidable cast create the thundering force of the people of Rome.

Although a weighty and political text, Farr makes his production fresh and accessible through his links with the world today and, with an election looming and the bloody memory of the invasion of Iraq fresh in our minds, there is no doubt Julius Caesar is a play for our times.

The companys outstanding versatility allows it to serve up a vibrant and swinging version of The Two Gentleman Of Verona on alternate nights.

Director Fiona Buffini, who studied English at the University of Sussex, sets her production in the Thirties and injects a glorious energy into one of the Bards lesser-performed plays.

Full of flamboyance and lovingly performed, she manages to weave dance and music into its twisty plot and still make a joyously ridiculous ending a pleasure to watch.

The Two Gentlemen Of Verona continues until April 16 2005. Call 01444 876060 for tickets.