This isn’t a sponsored post.
BrumHour saw Pericles at the invite of The RSC.
By David Fox x.com/DavidFoxTheatre
Review: Pericles at The RSC Swan Theatre
⭐⭐⭐⭐”Beautiful, intimate, and entertaining”
Directed by Tamara Harvey, written by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare’s Pericles is a captivating tale of adventure, love, and redemption. The play follows Prince Pericles of Tyre as he escapes an assassination attempt, wins the hand of Thaisa, faces numerous shipwrecks, and suffers heartbreaking separation from his wife and daughter. Spanning various exotic locations and years of trials, the story ultimately culminates in poignant reunions, highlighting themes of resilience, divine intervention, and the enduring power of familial bonds.
Heading the cast in the title role of Pericles is Alfred Enoch – famed for his roles including How to Get Away With Murder and Foundation as well as his acclaimed stage work including Red (Wyndham’s), and an outstanding Romeo in Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Enoch’s Pericles was measuredly and sensitively played, showing a great range of emotion and physical action – while never better than the end of the play when Pericles is reunited with his wife and daughter, Enoch gives an emotional and moving performance throughout. He was simply wonderful.
The rest of the ensemble cast are also strong players. Particular highlights were Felix Hayes (a hugely expressive face and voice for comedy who I have seen in a number of other RSC productions) as Antiochus, Rachelle Diedericks as Pericles’ daughter Marina and who also acts as narrator for the tale, and Christain Patterson giving a standout, and very funny performance as Simonides.
The set design for Pericles was simple, but effective – with ropes and wooden flooring evoking ship’s rigging, far-off lands, mighty palaces, and even at one point a brothel! The warm, golden lighting, and wooden beams of the beautiful Swan Theatre really add to the intimate effect of the production – beautifully presented in this stunning setting.
This production marks the RSC debut of Tamara Harvey, the RSC’s new Co-Artistic Director. If this is an example of the standard set we should be in for some very exciting productions in the years to come! I look forward to seeing more from her.
Productions of Pericles do not come around very often at The RSC (the last one was 18 years ago!) so if you are interested in Shakespeare please take this opportunity to see one of the lesser-known and performed plays, prior to its transfer to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) next year.
At times dramatic, at times laugh-out-loud-funny, at times emotional and affecting: this beautiful, intimate, and entertaining production is well worth seeing. Pericles is at The RSC’s Swan Theatre, Stratford upon Avon for a limited run until 21st September 2024. Book tickets at rsc.org.uk/pericles.
