THE blood, sweat and tears of Victorian working life is painfully evoked in the Library Theatre’s stunning production of Hard Times.

Dickens’ classic tale has been transported to the imposing setting of Murrays Mills in Ancoats and the decision can only be described as a masterstroke, giving this stirring and engrossing story even greater impact.

Downtrodden mill workers, a loveless marriage and a wayward middle class son all feature here and it’s remarkable how fresh the dialogue sounds.

I was also impressed by Dickens’ social conscience and the way he speaks up for ordinary working people at a time when all many of them could look forward to was an early grave.

This is a promenade production which means the audience follows the actors around one floor of the mill, from one scene to another.

It all works brilliantly and there’s ample opportunity for people to take the weight off their feet as and when the need arises.

Hard Times was an ambitious project for this centre of theatrical excellence to undertake but with artistic director Chris Honer at the helm, anything is possible.

The whole cast put in strong and affecting performances with David Fleeshman (Thomas Gradgrind), Alice O’Connell (Louisa Gradgrind) and Richard Heap (Josiah Bounderby), the best of a very talented bunch. Magnificent.

* Until July 2.