Stone and Ashes by Daniel Danis, directed by Philip Graham, designed by Julie Watson. White Bear theatre Club, Kennington, June 1998.

Daniel Danis' Quebecois drama of redemption and loss was another first for Brute Farce. The play had never been performed in England before and this intense modern tragedy proved a very demanding piece.

It concerns the retreat of city-dweller, Clayton and his daughter Laura to a small, isolated town after the murder of his wife.

The pair keep themselves to themselves, Clayton finding solace in the removal of stones from his land, until they come to the notice of Shirley, town librarian and leader of the local hoodloom gang, and her lover Noodle.

Shirley falls for Clayton and starts to bring him out of himself but she has promised revenge for an earlier slight and Noodle will not let her forget. She allows Noodle to exact this revenge, with tragic consequences.

The story is told in flashback, in some cases by the ghosts of the characters, through a series of interlocking monologues as it slides to its tragic conclusion.

Stone and Ashes also marked the first collaboration with Julie Watson, winner of the Linbury prize for design.

Lyn Christine played Laura, Polly Kemp played Shirley, Rob Crouch was Noodle and Martin Posnett played Clayton.