BEN Jonson's comedy of lust, greed and corruption -- Volpone Or The Fox -- opens at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.

Greg Hersov, the play's director, says: "Volpone opens with the most extraordinary speech about the power of gold, which talks about it being more important than family, friends or love.

"Money gives you fame, courage and power."

Volpone first took the stage by storm in 1606.

But Hersov says: "In the play, Jonson says that the new Golden Age is the age of gold and it seems to me that this is a pretty accurate description of the culture that we live in now.

"Money and status go together and, in that sense, it makes the play very much alive and relevant for a contemporary audience."

Gerard Murphy plays Volpone, the millionaire confidence trickster, out to squeeze every penny from the self-centred array of crooks and charlatans gathered around his bed waiting for him to die.

His partner in crime, Mosca, is played by Stephen Noonan.

Volpone Or The Fox runs from October 20 to November 27. The Box Office is 0151 833 9833.