DIRECTOR Rupert Goold has warm memories of Salisbury Playhouse and is delighted to be returning next week.

The former associate director is now artistic director of Oxford Stage Company and his production of Paradise Lost tours to the city for a five-day run.

This highly-acclaimed production, adapted by Ben Power from John Milton's epic 12-volume poem on the fall of mankind, was originally produced at the Royal Theatre, Northampton, when Rupert Goold was resident there.

Following a redesign, using movement, music and rich imagery, this new touring production has been created.

Rupert explains: "The story is comprehensive and I think it is much easier to follow than Shakespeare, partly because we have cut away, reducing the text, so not every single word is Milton.

"It's a bit like trying to stage the unstaged, so we have made it very visual, with fairytale-like bits. Paradise Lost also has its funny moments."

Rupert Goold's last visit to the Playhouse was in 2003, directing Pete Postlethwaite in Scaramouche Jones, as part of Salisbury Festival, and his 2002 co-production of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia was a huge success.

Paradise Lost is highly recommended viewing and tickets are available from the theatre box office.