KEN Kesey's classic novel One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest was brought to life in superb fashion at Peel Centenary Centre.

I caught the final night of the run by TNT Theatre Britain on Saturday and it was immensely powerful stuff.

There will be many familiar with the film version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest but this production stuck much closer to the novel which sees the drama of the mental hospital through the eyes of Chief Bromden.

With just a cast of five the actors did an amazing job of creating the feel of the institution.

Before all the audience members had even taken their seats Chief Bromden (played by Robert McCafferty) was on the stage, sweeping his broom. Even before the first piece of dialogue we were familiar with the surroundings of the hospital.

The play tells the story of MacMurphy (Gareth Radcliffe), a man who has managed to get out of his prison sentence by pretending to be insane.

Lucia McAnespie took on the role of Nurse Ratched, who runs the ward, while patients Harding and Billy Boy were played by Glyn Connop and Russell Clough respectively.

McMurphy makes it his mission to make Nurse Ratched's life an utter misery and the - first verbal and later physical - conflicts between them are central to the play. 

Chief Bromden's role is much more significant than in the film and we get to see his visions played out.

In terms of representing how people who suffer from mental illness are cared for then of course the setting is outdated and it does not paint a picture of how things have progressed in this field.

But the themes are as relevant as ever - freedom, the battle against the "machine," tragedy and hope.

It was a stunning production that was exceptionally well acted and featured some great lighting.

Key Kesey's novel was a product of the 1960s, but since that time it is clear none of its drama has been lost.