Summer dates at the end of the review from 25th August to 2nd September
The latest summer offering from Ian Kennedy Productions (or IKP as they prefer to be known) is a sword and sandals romp through one of the best-known tales from Greek mythology, Hercules.….with a bit of Roman mythology thrown in for good measure.
Having been on tour since the end of June, playing to audiences all around the UK and Ireland, this evening’s performance was in the idyllic, grand setting of the gardens of Cowley Manor, the perfect venue for a madcap mythological tale. The company’s aim is to bring traditional and classical stories to modern audiences with “heart, warmth and silliness at the core of everything [they] do”, and what ensues over two hours is exactly that – music, laughter, ad libs, lots of audience participation…..and an Olympus-sized helping of fun.
Writer Joe Hackett (who also stars admirably as the eponymous hero, as well as co-directing with Ollie Bradstock and Murray Andrews) has created a script which barrels its way hilariously through the life, adventures and labours of Hercules (or to use his Roman moniker, Heracles, a joke on which the show regularly and amusingly leans) ably supported by a cast of gods, monsters, mortals and immortals whom he meets along the way in his quest for love, beauty and a place atop Mount Olympus. There are also some trademark IKP plot and character twists thrown in to reflect contemporary society and its changing attitudes.
Being an outdoor touring production, one of the show’s many strengths lies in the versatility of a talented, small cast: Reuben Burrows and Rachael Holbrook excel in multiple support roles, rapidly switching costumes backstage…..well, in a gazebo….and throwing themselves into the performance with energy and humour, but it is Cheltenham favourite Andrews, arguably a legend in his own right, who steals the show as Zeus (as well as several other mythical deities), capable of evoking instant laughter through his use of song, dance and physical theatre. Shows of this nature frequently require improvisation in response to any number of factors on the night and which help to make each performance unique: all of the cast manage this with great skill, confidence and humour. The staging and props are simple, creative, and highly effective. Much is left to the imagination of the audience, but we are happy to fill in the gaps ourselves as we are swept along in this hilarious Herculean homage.
Some of the finer details of the life of Hercules (as well as many of the labours for which he is famous) may well fall by the wayside in this particular rendering of this timeless tale, but that matters little, and is actually an integral part of the scripting. First and foremost, this is a family-friendly performance which sets out to bring plenty of laughter – rather than historical detail or accuracy – and it certainly does this, with its tongue planted very firmly in its cheek and a few subtle, panto-esque lines clearly aimed at older members of the audience. It is quite deliberately and deliciously daft, and will not fail to make you laugh out loud.
Hercules continues his labours at various venues in the area until the end of the month. Be sure not to myth out….
Fri 25 Aug: Beacon Park, Lichfield
Sat 26 Aug: Heath Farm, Chipping Norton
Mon 28 Aug: Rococo Garden, Painswick
Wed 30 Aug: Dunkertons Cider Shop, Cheltenham
Thu 31 Aug: Cosmeston Lakes, Penarth
Fri 1 Aug: Cyfarthfa Castle, Merthyr Tydfil
Sat 2 Sep: Castle Hill, Filleigh, Barnstaple
Tony Clarke 24 August 2023
Photographer; Ian Kennedy
