The dark days of the city’s role in the English Civil War were put to the test in the first production by a new youth theatre.

Quartz, the youth arm of Theatre in the Quarter , presented Sarah Weston's Masque in the unusual surroundings of the magistrates court at Chester Town Hall.

Directed by Steph Green, the action begins on the stairs of the town hall with a beautiful rendition of a song written by artistic director Matt Baker.

The moving and innovative piece lasted only an hour but delved deeply into the effects that the siege had on everyday folk.

The audience was invited not to judge, but hear the testimonies of the ordinary people living in the city in 1645 and 1646.

The play opens with an interesting debate about whose ‘facts’ we are to believe – council leaders, the military, commentators, historians – although of course the humble citizen’s thoughts are rarely recorded in the history books.

I question my own knowledge of world history and wonder if I rely too much on the ‘facts of Simon Schama, Peter Snow and perhaps even Melvyn Bragg!’

At the beginning of the war, the city was held by forces loyal to King Charles who suffered defeat at the Battle of Rowton Moor.

Seated on the court’s benches, we are asked to shift up to accommodate the actors and hence experience the cramped conditions of 17th century Chester as the population more than doubles with the arrival of the troops.

We witness the starvation, the desperation and the frustration of the war.

The play ends with monolgues from people living through civil wars today before the young company assemble on the Town Hall steps outside to pay tribute to their forebears who lived through the hell.

Well done Quartz - a daring and insightful introduction to your new company. I look forward to the next production.