Edward II – Courtyard Theatre

The Troublesome Reign and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second, King of England, with the Tragical Fall of Proud Mortimer is a title too long by half but hardly shorter than this abridged adaptation of Marlowe’s malleable history.

Cut down to a run time of a mere fifty minutes by the Small Beer Theatre company this fun size production powers through pages of plot at an astonishing pace.

Beginning with the recall of controversial courtier and king’s favourite Piers Gaveston (Ciaran Barker) to Edward II’s (Alex Levy) well fashioned domestic abode and ending with a slew of homebrewed murders, the play’s middle section is populated with brief love scenes and extensive ireful monologues. Gaveston’s sway (and bend) over the delicate monarch draws the wrath of Queen Isabella (Zoe Mavrides) and proud but not pride friendly Mortimer (Caleb Cura). Their conspiracy unseats Edward and sees the dissolution of all order over the course of only a handful of scenes.

Collaboratively designed with funky and flashy costumes, a three-piece set that gets the job done (particularly when the job is done on one’s back), immersive lighting design and a well-paced series of soundtracking queercoded hits to situate this adaptation within a particular time and place, this production is ruthlessly efficient.

It’s been quite a few years since Marlowe was writing for the London stage and audiences’ tolerance for synthesizing the abject suffering of queer lovers has both diminished and expanded in the intervening centuries. The play’s comedic elements feel fresh and fun, but it meets a bitter end that feels all the more sour for the sweetness that proceeds it.

Reviewer: Kira Daniels

Reviewed: 4th August 2024

North West End UK Rating: