He hadn't trodden the boards for ten years - but Kenneth Branagh came to Sheffield, to play Richard III at the Crucible.

Why did he decide to take the part? And why here in South Yorkshire? He told BBC Radio Sheffield's Rony Robinson:

Branagh: back after ten years

And what was the performance like? These people queued for hours, but they thought it was worth it!

And our theatre critic was impressed too - here's her review of the show:

Branagh's return to the stage was always going to be eagerly anticipated. And it was an undoubted success - truly entertaining theatre. The audience loved it.

Branagh's performance was agile and witty. He switched from charmer to manipulator effortlessly, and steered the production away from becoming a pantomime farce (though at times it sailed close to the wind). He is a classy performer, and he clearly enjoyed it.

But he was supported by several excellent performances. Barbara Jefford as Queen Margaret spat her copious, exquisite insults with more venom than a trapped snake. Gerard Horan as Clarence brought a third dimension to a character who can sometimes seem a little flat. The children were nauseating, but that's to be expected.

The production was complemented by the simple, classic sets. Though they didn't help with the acoustics, the unfrivolous pillars and props added a required solemnity to the play.

Perhaps my only criticism of the direction was that, by overstressing the humour earlier in the play, Richard's descent into inner turmoil, guilt and self-loathing was left a little rushed at the end.

Being ultra-picky, the direction didn't always consider the acoustics of the Crucible. The actors turned their backs on sections of the audience at times, and their words got lost.

But otherwise, it was a slick crowd-pleaser which stayed true enough to the script to keep the buffs happy.