TOLSTOY’S War and Peace is a mammoth novel and its stage adaptation is an equally mammoth undertaking from the Shared Experience company, so much so that the six-hour play comes in two parts.

But anyone who saw Part One at the Playhouse last night will certainly want to see Part Two tonight. The theatrical version has the same sweep and power of the book and the same ability to suck you into the lives of its many characters.

Adapted by Liverpool-born Helen Edmundson, it retains most of the main characters and follows the story’s narrative pretty faithfully. Apart from an opening scene in the modern day, the tale opens like the book with a soiree held by Anna Pavlova where many of the characters are introduced.

The gallery visitor is transformed into Pierre Bezuhov the gauche, bespectacled count whose life is transformed by war and whose story touches so many others. The gallery attendant stays as servant and sometimes introducer of characters.

Directors Nancy Meck- ler and Polly Teale use a wide open stage rather like a ballroom to display all the action, from romance to last night’s Battle of Austerlitz.

It all works thanks to the literate script, a lot of imagination and strong performances from the 15-strong cast. Barnaby Kay is a perfect Pierre, Louise Ford a delightful Natasha. The scene changes work beautifully and while music occasionally int- rudes, this is an acting lesson in ensemble playing.

The stories merge seamlessly and the plots with all their characters are fairly easy to follow given all those Russian names. In short, a triumph.

Those who like their lengthy dramas in one sitting can see parts one and two in sequence tomorrow and Sunday.