Cyrano de Bergerac at RSC’s Swan Theatre Review
Written by Roni for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Continuing a strong 2025 season, and off the back of announcing their wanderlust 2026 season, the RSC are back with another, less traditional offering with Cyrano de Bergerac. They’ve assembled quite a cast, and an unusual tale for their new adaptation – but is that enough to make this a hit with the RSC audiences?
Cyrano de Bergerac is a comedy of errors centred around the title character and his unfortunately large nose. Cyrano is a soldier second and a poet first, as powerful with his tongue as with his sword, and well versed in nose-related humour. Deeply passionate and romantic, we discover Cyrano has long been in love with his childhood friend and fellow poet Roxane – kept from confessing his feelings by his belief she will not be able to look past his looks. When Christian, a fresh young reserve catches Roxane’s eye, she tasks Cyrano with a little matchmaking. There’s just one problem: Roxane wants to be wooed by words – and Christian can’t string a sentence together. Enter Cyrano…
Playing in the RSC’s secondary Swan Theatre, it could be easy to overlook a show such as this. Written by Edmond Rostand and reimagined by Simon Evans and Debris Stevenson, a slightly wordy title and unfamiliar story could eschew a fickle audience – thankfully, this is not the case. The house is full, and soon ringing with laughter. Set during a time of war in France, there are poignant moments, but many more endearingly hilarious ones. This is a script that is genuinely funny, but is no less carried by its wonderful cast, headed up by Adrian Lester. The star of the small and silver screen is given an opportunity to flex his wit with this book, and it is glorious to see. His timing and inflection are second to none, and he masterfully carries all of this out while swinging a sword around. As a fellow Brummie, Levi Brown’s Christian, performed in his native accent, is cheeky, charming, and full of sparkle – and incredibly refreshing to see on an RSC stage. Special mention must go also to supporting cast members Caolan McCarthy and Greer Dale-Foulkes especially, who both had the audience in stitches with even the smallest lines. But it is the final scene, heartbreakingly delivered by both Lester and Susannah Fielding as Roxane, that really takes our breath away. Without spoilers, the characters lament on what it means to have a wasted life in many ways, and there is barely a dry eye in the house. There is something about seeing Lester go from full of vim and vigour, to a truly devastated man discovering the errors of his life that strikes a tenable chord, and serves as a reminder to us all that life is too fragile for reservation and fear.
Overall, this is a gorgeous piece that needs no gimmicks or elaborate set – just a beautiful book, phenomenally delivered by the most joyous cast an audience could lay eyes. Go, see it, do not miss it; you will walk away with a new perspective on life – the highest compliment one can bestow on a piece of theatre.
Cyrano de Bergerac runs at the Swan Theatre until November 15th.
★★★★★
