A theatrically rich experience of Shakespeare using poetry!
Venus and Adonis is based on Shakespeare’s poem of the same name. The story follows the story of Venus, the goddess of love and her desire to be with Adonis, who would rather do something else. Greg Doran has a long history with Shakespeare which is felt in this production. Doran’s direction was charming, whimsical, and humourous: the perfect blend of Shakespeare.
The puppeteers in this production are Bartolomeo Bartolini, Edie Edmunson, Lee Maeda, Rachel Leonard, and Sarah Wright. The way they effortlessly move all the puppets felt magical. Specifically, Venus was puppeteered with more elegant movements than Adonis: symbolising her status as a goddess. The additional animal puppets helped create the atmosphere and the action. Lyndie Wright has created brilliant puppets for this production, giving them opportunity to move fluidly throughout.
Simon Russell Beale narrates this piece with elegant poise and enthusiasm, which helped the audience feel immersed in the world. Nick Lee added instrumentals that felt very Shakespearean. The set felt like an old school puppet show with a Shakespeare twist. The moving parts allowed for more atmosphere to be built, alongside lighting which emphasise different aspects of the set during crucial moments.
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