Red Shift Theatre Company /
Brewery Arts Centre
22 November 2003

Reviewed by Daniel Haesen

A full house. Anticipation focused on an empty stage. Minimalist design centred around a red circle, nested in a crescent shaped ramp. Red and black. A lone wooden sword. Moon and sea illuminated through clever media projection in the background. Then six figures cartwheeling with athletic ease, engaged in dancelike martial artistry, coming together centre stage; movements flowing together in synchronised choreography. A first taste of the Brazilian martial art Capoeira we have been promised in the description of Red Shift‘s production.

Then the transition to the well known story of King Arthur and the usual suspects involved in the twists and turns of the legend (Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin etc.). A somewhat traditional perspective on this tale of destiny, duty, betrayal, sin and redemption, brought to life by the energy and dynamic flow of the Capoeira fight and battle scenes, rhythmically accentuated by South American and electronic beats.

Throughout the play actors alternated between up to four different characters. Giving each role a distinctive quality that made it easy for the audience to follow each change in scene (this was quite an achievement as the only change in costume occurred during the interval). A slight problem was the lack of change of pace – and the actors' tendency to shout their lines precluded much emotional depth or intensity. A highlight was the exceptional performance by Nicola Harrison who displayed a considerable emotional breadth in her depiction of Guinevere, Igraine, Anna and Morgan Le Fay.

Altogether this imaginative fusion of a famous legend with the acrobatic, dance like movements of Capoeira staged in the beautiful venue of the Brewery Arts Centre left me wanting to see more plays infused with the dynamic energy of martial arts performances.