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The moral of The Soldier's Tale, by Igor Stravinsky, libretto by C.F.Ramuz, is as hard-hitting now as it was when first performed in 1918. Essentially this tale informs us that no one can have it all, which in today's world of financial greed is particularly relevant.

The Soldier's Tale is a theatrical work to be read, played and danced, making it an excellent piece for the Adderbury Ensemble and the Oxford Dance Theatre to perform together, as they will this weekend. Based on a Russian folk tale, it's a parable about a soldier who trades his fiddle to the devil for a book that predicts the future of the economy. The story is told by three actors: the soldier, the devil and a narrator who also takes on the roles of minor characters. The role of the princess, who the soldier falls in love with, is a non-speaking role played by a dancer.

Jackie Keirs, who founded the Oxford Dance Theatre in 1987, first staged The Soldier's Tale at the Burton Taylor Theatre in May of that year. The idea of reviving the piece came from Chris Windass, the director of the Coffee Concerts that take place in the Holywell Music Room on Sunday mornings. It was Chris who played the violin in Jackie's original production.

Jackie is thrilled that she has managed to include actor Joseph Adams too. He amazed audiences with his charismatic performance of the Devil when Jackie revived her production two years later.

The Soldier's Tale opens at 8pm at the Newman Rooms tonight, then goes on to the North Wall Theatre, Summertown, tomorrow at 8pm and then the Holywell Music Room. The final showing will be at 7.45pm on Sunday evening at Adderbury Church.

As The Soldier's Tale only takes an hour to perform, Jackie has added two other pieces to the programme, as she did 20 years ago. They are Scott Joplin's Piano Rags, orchestrated by Mark Goddard for the present ensemble, and Stravinsky's own Ragtime, composed in 1918.

For tickets phone the Oxford Playhouse on 01865 305305.

2:29pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

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