The Tempest – Drayton Arms Theatre

Burnt Orange Theatre Rep Company bring The Tempest to life. In the black box theatre setting, the troupe form a striking ensemble with sizzling choreography as well as impressive individual performances.

Such dynamic storytelling with swift transitions made Shakespeare’s language accessible and engaging. The group was cohesive and nimble, heaving to and fro throughout like the waves and the ship, and producing surreal hissing and clicking sound collages.

I loved the interpretation of Ariel, with four actors embodying the spirit. They really captured the magic and elemental nature of the play. Ioan Oosthuizen’s fraught Prospero was heavy with responsibility, and it was charming to see his lighter side and fatherly affection around his daughter. As the principal storyteller in the play, Oosthuizen conveyed the meaning purposefully and clearly. Lucas Ayton’s Ferdinand had a convincing sincerity and purity. Lauren McIntyre gave a standout performance as Caliban. The torrential passion and his resilience towards self-preservation was powerful, and McIntyre portrayed him as delicately tinkered on the verge of insanity because of his treatment.

The whole group embodied each part they played, whether human or inanimate object and they navigated the text so eloquently, conveying subtext and meanings clearly. At times, perhaps the group could have used silence and pause to provide more contrast.

Whilst the studio theatre space enhanced the intensity, I can imagine this being performed in an outdoor theatre with all the elements.

Reviewer: Riana Howarth

Reviewed: 27th April 2024

North West End UK Rating: