pericles at the rsc...

On Monday evening we went to see the RSC’s production of Shakespeare’s ‘Pericles’ at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon (featuring ‘our’ Felix in the roles of Antiochus and Pander). It’s Tamara Harvey’s first production as the Royal Shakespeare Company’s co-artistic director.
It’s a play that isn’t performed all that frequently (it was last staged by the RSC 18 years ago) – perhaps because some believe that it’s only partly by Shakespeare? The plot is complicated and, in somewhat typical ‘Shakespearian’ style, includes shipwrecks, death at sea, royalty, incest, tyranny, three father-daughter relationships, unrecognised relatives, tragedy, humour and pirates!
I thought the play made a rather plodding start (the early acts are generally ascribed to George Wilkins – which might explain things - and not helped, again in my humble opinion(!), by some rather uninspired choreography), but developed impressively subsequently. Alfred Enoch (Pericles) is quite brilliant as Pericles and, as you would imagine at the RSC, the rest of the cast – in their bright pinks, purples and azures - combine to provide impressive support.
I always love going to plays at the RSC (I adore both the Royal Shakespeare and Swan theatres) and this production was no exception.