Reviewed by Mark
Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review.
The war may be over, but the violence has only just begun in this harrowing retelling of Shakespeare's most bloody work. Under the direction of Max Webster, known for his gripping recent interpretations of Macbeth starring David Tennant and The Importance of Being Earnest with Ncuti Gatwa, Titus Andronicus invites audiences to witness a chilling descent into chaos and retribution.
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| Simon Russell Beale as Titus. Photo by Marc Brenner |
When the victorious general Titus Andronicus, played with great intensity by Simon Russell Beale, executes his enemy’s son in a grotesque act of vengeance, he unknowingly ignites a chain reaction of brutality and suffering. Russell Beale has such clarity in his delivery, he knows how to deliver a line. He is also wickedly comedic at the right moments, particularly in the second act, he clearly revels in the part. Although he was nearly completely upstaged by a fly at the performance I attended.
Emma Fielding shines as Marcia Andronicus, bringing depth to her role amidst a landscape littered with both heartache and rage. The role is gender swapped for this production and it really does work. There is deftly brilliantly work done by Fielding throughout. The real heart-breaking work comes from Letty Thomas as Lavinia. Thomas captures the audience’s sympathy with her tragic fate and it is undeniably harrowing when the audience first see her after she's been raped and her body mutilated. Returning to the RSC after an outstanding debut with the company last year as Rosalind in As You Like It, it's clear that Thomas is a highly valuable asset to the RSC.
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| Letty Thomas as Lavinia and Wendy Kweh as Tamora. Photo by Marc Brenner |
Wendy Kweh’s portrayal of the formidable Tamora adds layers of complexity to a woman driven by revenge. You get a real sense of a woman who just wants vengeance and will stop at nothing to get it. Marlowe Chan-Reeves and Jeremy Ang Jones do feel a little underpowered as Chiron and Demetrius except in their moment with Lavinia.
As families are torn apart and blood spills relentlessly across the stage, one sinister figure, Aaron the Moor—immaculately portrayed by Natey Jones—gleefully revels in the mayhem, embodying the very essence of malice.
Webster’s direction infuses this haunting tale with a modern lens, deftly drawing parallels to contemporary aggression that resonates in today’s tumultuous world. Every scene pulsates with tension and anticipation, making it clear that the carnage is only a heartbeat away. The staging, designed by Joanna Scotcher, see's pulley's brought in, any time one enters you know a character's doom is approaching. The blood is both flung at characters as well as hose piped at them. The stark capturing of Titus chopping off his hand is superbly imagined using strobe lighting and blood. The stage by the end of the performance completly is blood stained as the final sequences play out. This is not a production of the squeamish.
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| Photo by Marc Brenner. |
Webster's production of Titus Andronicus is an exhilarating, bloody spectacle that grips you from start to finish. This powerful rendition serves not only as a reminder of Shakespeare's genius but also as a stark reflection of humanity's darker impulses. Its modern setting only pulses further with the reality of the world today. It's a superbly tense thriller.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Titus Andronicus plays at the Swan Theatre until 7th June 2025. Tickets are available from https://www.rsc.org.uk/
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