There is something wonderfully unruly about this revival of Emma Rice’s production Tristan & Yseult at Theatre Royal Bath. Music bursts from the stage, performers move with infectious energy and the familiar tale of passion, betrayal and heartbreak is given a thoroughly modern, gloriously theatrical treatment.
Originally created by Kneehigh and Emma Rice in 2003, Tristan & Yseult has become something of a landmark production, returning to the stage for the first time in ten years. Seeing it now, it is easy to understand why it has developed such a reputation. This is part musical, part-circus, part panto comedy with lovable caricatures and a story of love which pulls you into its world and keeps changing the rules as it goes.
At its heart is the familiar story of Tristan and Yseult, two people who fall desperately in love despite Yseult being destined to marry King Mark. What follows is a complicated tangle of passion, jealousy, loyalty and betrayal, but Emma Rice’s production offers up comedy, music, movement, sensuality and a fair amount of theatrical chaos alongside the tragedy.
That balance is one of the things that makes the production work so well. There are moments when the audience is laughing at the sheer exuberance of what is happening on stage, only for the mood to shift and suddenly become surprisingly poignant. The comedy doesn’t diminish the tragedy; if anything, it makes the darker moments hit harder.
John Leader and Nandi Bhebhe are compelling as Tristan and Yseult, creating a relationship that feels passionate and believable even when the decisions they make become increasingly destructive. Around them a wonderful Matthew Churcher and wondrous Stephanie Hockley are stand outs alongside a strong cast that is constantly moving, transforming and whisking the story along joyously to its dramatic final moments.
The physicality of the production is particularly striking. Movement, choreography, music, lighting and design all become part of the storytelling, creating a fluid, almost dreamlike quality. It gives the whole production a sense of momentum and makes the stage feel much bigger than it actually is.
Live music is central to that experience. The band feels like an integral part of the production with the music adding to the energetic atmosphere, helping to carry the audience through the constantly shifting emotions of the story.
There is also a lovely sense of mischief running through Tristan & Yseult. This is clearly a production that enjoys playing with its audience. It doesn’t feel overly reverential towards the source material and isn’t afraid to be funny, strange or deliberately theatrical. That gives it a freshness which is perhaps surprising for a show first created more than twenty years ago.
What is perhaps most impressive is how alive the whole production feels. There is a real sense of performers and musicians creating something together in the moment, and that is particularly effective in a theatre like the Theatre Royal Bath, where the audience feels close to the action.
For anyone who has heard about Tristan & Yseult over the years but never had the chance to see it, this is a good opportunity to discover what all the fuss has been about.
It is funny, physical, beautifully performed and, ultimately, rather heartbreaking. Most importantly, it is the sort of theatre that reminds you why seeing a production live is such a different experience from simply knowing the story. Tristan & Yseult may be an ancient tale, but in Emma Rice’s hands it feels anything but old.
Tristan & Yseult is at Theatre Royal Bath until the 21st of September. You can get your tickets here.
