Pericles, Swan Theatre Review
Pericles production image. Photo by Johan Persson.Written by Roni for Theatre and Tonic.
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.
Pericles is marking RSC’s new co-artistic director Tamara Harvey’s directorial debut, and it seems to be a fine choice to start with. One of Shakespeare’s lesser staged plays, the company has also assembled a stellar cast to tell one of the Bard’s happier tales. Audiences are flocking to the Swan Theatre at their home in Stratford-upon-Avon to catch the show, and it isn’t difficult to see why.
Pericles follows the Prince of the same name who is forced to flee his homeland when King Antiochus orders his death for uncovering his incestuous relationship with his daughter. Travelling by sea, Pericles becomes shipwrecked and eventually washes up on King Simonides’ shores, just as the latter is holding a tournament in his daughter’s honour. When Pericles receives word of Antiochus’ death, he returns home with his pregnant wife to reclaim his throne. However, when his wife dies in childbirth and is buried at sea, and his daughter is wrongly assumed dead having been kidnapped by pirates, Pericles falls into a deep despair. Could a series of miracles restore a once great King to the man he was?
The staging here is beautifully bare: set designer Jonathan Frensome has struck gold with the idea that ‘less is more’, allowing the stripped back, rustic-looking set decorated only with a few ropes and fairy lights to provide the perfect backdrop for a story set in what are today Turkish municipalities. The recreation of natural elements is a feature we’ve come to expect in RSC productions, but it is no less effective or visually striking. The costuming also stands out with some gorgeous, rich pieces, made even more important by the doubling up of roles for various cast members.
The cast are exquisite as always, and seems to be enjoying and benefitting from the freedom that comes with staging one of Shakespeare’s lesser known works. Notable performances come from Rachelle Diedericks as Marina, who leads us through the story beautifully and with important clarity, as well as Christian Patterson as King Simonides, who provides some wicked laughs. A lovely element of this show is that, despite inevitable moments of sorrow, there are plenty of joyful moments too, as well as a happy ending that feels rare in a Shakespeare play. The star of the night is of course Alfred Enoch as Pericles himself, a character that requires a performance of serious emotional depth, which Enoch effortlessly delivers. He has the audience openly weeping at multiple points with his portrayal of both loss and relief, proof of how well he conveys plot and sentiments that can be difficult to follow. While this is far from his first turn at Shakespeare, it would be wonderful to see him in a larger scale production for the much wider audience he deserves to perform for.
In short, this production is full of incredible performances and moving messages, with a joyful conclusion to send you on your way. It is genuinely touching and gives a masterclass in striking a chord. It would lend itself well to a bigger stage as more of a headliner for a programme in future, but for now should simply be enjoyed by as many as possible.
At Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon until 21 September
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
