Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands

<div id="attachment_19830" style="width: 1010px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-19830" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-19830 size-full" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265443.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="667" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265443.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265443-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265443-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265443-720x480.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><p id="caption-attachment-19830" class="wp-caption-text">Amber James and Gavin Fowler as Troilus and Cressida. Production photos by Helen Maybanks.</p></div>
<p>Gregory Doran’s epic Mad Max post-apocalypse style <em>Troilus and Cressida,</em> with its swaggering yet flawed super-heroes and ill-fated young lovers, opens with a clash of percussion instruments so loud many of the audience jump in their seats.</p>
<p>The Scottish virtuoso percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie has composed her first ever theatre score and it is so phenomenally good you can feel every beat of every drum. But be it a tank drum, vibraphone or an oil can, “the rhythm of war”, is at times slightly overpowering.</p>
<p>Hanging above the stage is what looks like a giant sculptural lampshade or art installation of random upcycled copper objects &#8211; which light up and transform into musical instruments at different points of the production.</p>
<div id="attachment_19827" style="width: 1010px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-19827" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-19827 size-full" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265356.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="667" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265356.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265356-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265356-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265356-720x480.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><p id="caption-attachment-19827" class="wp-caption-text">L-R: Oliver Ford Davies as Pandarus, Geoffrey Lumb as Paris and Daisy Badger as Helen of Troy.</p></div>
<p>Ingeniously, from this stunning centrepiece descends a beautifully lit metal sphere. Inside is a glittering Helen of Troy and her sleeping lover Paris, whose affair triggered the Trojan war – now seven years in.</p>
<p>Seconds later leather-clad warriors on motorbikes roar onto the RST stage with Theo Ogundipe’s Ajax &#8211; a giant of a man on stilts wearing a Mohican &#8211; towering over Sheila Reid’s tiny pocket-size Thersites in a thrilling, stylish opening scene.</p>
<p>Troilus and Cressida’s relationship in many ways feels like a modern love story – more real in its failings. The young couple’s ill-fated romance is the emotional beating heart of Shakespeare’s 1602 play. RSC veteran Oliver Ford Davies is both captivating and endearing as Cressida’s doddery uncle Pandarus, who acts as go-between to the lovers.</p>
<div id="attachment_19826" style="width: 1010px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-19826" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-19826 size-full" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265367.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="714" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265367.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265367-300x214.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265367-768x548.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265367-700x500.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><p id="caption-attachment-19826" class="wp-caption-text">L-R: Amber James&#8217;s Cressida; Oliver Fod Davies as Pandarus and Gavin Fowler as Troilus.</p></div>
<p>I loved the scene where he introduces her to a line-up of Troy’s warriors, excitedly bigging-up Troilus’s qualities so loudly the soldier overhears and self-consciously starts to preen himself, then trips up. Once Troilus has walked past Pendarus casually shrugs off the rest of the men as “…Chaff and bran; porridge after meat”.</p>
<p>The stage bristles with sexual chemistry and nervous tension between the infatuated young couple.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-19825 aligncenter" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265427.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="714" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265427.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265427-300x214.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265427-768x548.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265427-700x500.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
<p>Amber James’ Cressida is no wallflower. In a strong, powerful performance her Cressida is razor-sharp, street-wise and self-aware. She looks edgy too, in a V-necked white chiffon dress, accessorised with fingerless leather gloves and long dangling statement earrings.</p>
<p>Gavin Fowler’s Troilus, in leather gilet, armoured vest and combats, is “giddy” and awkward, but once at ease he turns into a smooth-talking charmer.</p>
<p>We see Pendarus’s gradual decline following his nieces’ infamous fling with her Greek guard Diomed. The complexities of character are well examined here. As well as Troilus anger at being cheated on; we see the betrayal from Cressida’s point of view as her inner-hurt is displayed in a raw outburst.</p>
<div id="attachment_19828" style="width: 1010px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-19828" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-19828 size-full" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265340.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="773" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265340.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265340-300x232.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265340-768x594.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265340-647x500.jpg 647w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><p id="caption-attachment-19828" class="wp-caption-text">Girlpower: Adjoa Andoh plays Ulysses and Suzanne Bertish, Agamemnon</p></div>
<p>Doran has gathered a fine cast of feisty, eloquent women to play traditionally male roles in this gender-equal production &#8211;  Adoja Andoh as Ulysses, Suzanne Bertish as Greek general, Agamemnon and Amanda Harris as Trojan military commander Aeneas. Scottish actor Sheila Reid’s “tiny rogue” Thersites provides a satiric biting commentary – though her speech is occasionally muffled by the music.</p>
<p>The Greek god-like warriors have a real comic book quality – bare-chested, good-looking ‘giants’ with rippling biceps and six-packs. Shakespeare cynically turns Homer’s Iliad on its head – these ‘super-heroes’ are all flawed with weaknesses, vanities and enormous egos.</p>
<div id="attachment_19824" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-19824" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-19824 size-full" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265416.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="900" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265416.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265416-200x300.jpg 200w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265416-333x500.jpg 333w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><p id="caption-attachment-19824" class="wp-caption-text">Andy Apollo&#8217; Achilles</p></div>
<div id="attachment_19829" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-19829" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-19829 size-full" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265337.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="900" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265337.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265337-200x300.jpg 200w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265337-333x500.jpg 333w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><p id="caption-attachment-19829" class="wp-caption-text">Theo Ogundipe as Ajax</p></div>
<p>Theo Ogundipe earns more than a few laughs with his comedic performance as dim-witted Ajax, as does Andrew Langtree as Helen’s cuckolded husband Menelaus.</p>
<p>Bisexual war hero Achilles &#8211; Andy Apollo &#8211; has given up on the war to hang-out with James Cooney’s Patroclus – described by Thersites, as his “masculine whore”.  Ulysses unleashes a cunning plan to spur him back into action and we witness some brilliantly choreographed fight scenes.</p>
<div id="attachment_19823" style="width: 1010px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-19823" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-19823 size-full" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265412.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="714" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265412.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265412-300x214.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265412-768x548.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/10/Troilus-and-Cressida-production-photographs_-2018_2018_Photo-by-Helen-Maybanks-_c_-RSC-_265412-700x500.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><p id="caption-attachment-19823" class="wp-caption-text">Lovers: Achilles (Andy Apollo, left, and Patroclus (James Cooney)</p></div>
<p>Matt Daw’s cinematic lighting is blindingly good. As Achilles and his military soldiers ambush unarmed heroic Hector – a calm, measured Daniel Hawksford &#8211; a huge cluster of amber lights across the width of the stage lower, mimic the movement of a setting sun. Interestingly, Daw has also designed lighting for world tours by The XX, Damian Rice, Sigur Ros and Bjork.</p>
<p>This is a very noisy production from the revving of motorbikes, to Dame Glennie’s industrial-sounding score and the hysterical high-pitched screams of distraught Cassandra – King Priam’s prophetic daughter &#8211; an animated performance by Charlotte Arrowsmith, the first deaf actor in an RSC play.</p>
<p>Touchingly, Doran, artistic director of the RSC, has dedicated this production to the late RSC director and teacher John Barton who died in January aged 90. <em>Troilus and Cressida</em> was Barton’s favourite Shakespeare and one he directed three times for the company. Some of his fascinating handwritten rehearsal room notes – posted to Doran by his sister following his death – are published in the programme.</p>
<p>A hugely entertaining and engrossing three-hour watch and one, I imagine, Barton would have greatly enjoyed.</p>
<p><em>Troilus and Cressida runs in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon until November 17, and will be broadcast live in cinemas on Nov 14, <a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/troilus-and-cressida/">rsc</a></em></p>


Troilus and Cressida

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