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Veteran choreographer Gades is famous for flamenco films El Amor Brujo, Blood Wedding and Carmen and a wide screen segue of scenes melting into each other, superbly lit by Gades, enables the action to stir up all the sound and fury and contrasting statuesque horror of Greek tragedy. The story, based on a 17th century play, examines the burden on a community of a social conscience when faced with rape and murder destroying its lynch pin of love and marriage.

An ensemble of twenty four dancers form The Chorus upon which is played out the parable of sadistic aristocrat (Francisco Velasco) fancying his bit of droit de seigneur from, and subsequently raping, the girl (Tamara Lopez) before getting his comeuppance from the townsfolk. Revolutionary stuff in medieval Spain, but gripping modern theatre in Gades's hands, and feet.

There is a cacophony of drumming, clicking and nasal wailing from the onstage singers and musicians, but it is the simple love of dancing that carries you irresistibly along through Gardes's folk dances, classical flamenco (a stunning few moments in a dimly lit corner of the stage as the lovestruck boy, Christian Lozano, wins his lover's hand with a dazzling display) and balletic duets. It all turns out right in the end, but with such fabulous dancers, could it be any other way?