BOOKENDED by some of England’s starrier monarchs, the reign of James I has tended to gather dust in the eye of history.

But to celebrate 400 years since the publication of the King James I Bible, playwright Helen Newall breathes new life into his time on the throne, with James, performed last night at Liverpool Cathedral’s Lady Chapel.

Into her bubbling script for Chester-based Theatre in the Quarter, which begins with King James lies dying in his bedchamber, she blends ghost story, biography and Shakespearean reflection on the meaning of life and death.

Apart from commissioning the James I Bible, the Scottish-born king survived an assassination attempt by Guy Fawkes, inspired Shakespeare and less nobly, persecuted Catholics and witches. It’s accompanied by a spirit of one of the latter, troll-haired herbalist Agnes, impishly played by Melissa Daly, that we revisit those moments. Despite a slightly wobbly accent, Michael Cole’s King James was both regally imperious when judging others and sympathetic when facing his own day of reckoning.

Excellently staged, Max Rubin's production fully exploited its atmospheric setting. Shadows loomed a hundred feet high while projected candlelight and dry ice created unearthly scenes.

Most impressive perhaps was the music, which Matt Baker created to Bible verses. It was sung superbly by a spectral community choir, dressed in monkish robes and hoods. The urge to chronicle so much of James I’s life, illustrated by dense packets of Shakespearean and religious quotes, seemed at times to come at the expense of tight dramatic structure.

But colourful characters, powerful atmosphere and a clever twist at the end made James a welcome new acquaintance.

Emma Pinch