A left-wing poke in the eye for the National

Forza Galileo, an ensemble production very much inspired by Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop, in which the director was a member, sees the god Dionysus (Jatin Mehta) and Anna (Lisa Klevermark) taking a celebratory journey through time.

They meet many demigods of radical theatre, including Littlewood (Alison Mead) herself, along the way.

Littlewood's stand against the glitter of the commercial West End‚ as opposed to the proletarian workshop of the East End, can be seen as a metaphor for the independent and alternative Theatro Technis.

Its founder, Cyprus-born Marxist Eugeniou, explains that developing Theatro Technis has been a long struggle, trying to achieve the great and the good not only for oneself but for others also, especially the disadvantaged and excluded.

There are many outstanding performances in the piece. A leather-clad cigar-smoking Brecht played with gusto by Mark Minshall and a charming performance by John Rety playing the Hollywood star Charles Laughton.

The British-born Laughton, after a decade in film work, returned to the stage with The Life of Galileo, which was adapted with Brecht and performed in Los Angeles in 1947.

In Eugeniou's piece, the characters of critic Ken Tynan and writer John Osborne, who both claimed to be on the left, are accused by Littlewood of selling out to the commercial world.

It is with sad irony that Littlewood and her partner Jerry Raffles's influence waned after their first major commercial success Oh What a Lovely War.

Terrific music by Gillian Spragg and inspired lighting by Robin Snowdon combine to make this a magical event.

Theatro Technis is coming up to its 50th anniversary next year and this present production is highly recommended.

Plays until Saturday. Box office: (020) 7387-6617.

JOHN COURTNEY O'CONNOR