The Hatter’s set sail by hot air balloon (no, not really – there isn’t even one in the book, as I learned today!) to see York Theatre Royal’s summer show about a globetrotting eccentric’s worldly wager…
Gone for now are the plush seats of the Theatre Royal in favour of the grassy fields of four primary schools around York. This suits the idea of a touring circus as a theme, and the school was well equipped with things like toilets and plenty of space for everyone to see.
On a logistical note, we don’t know Copmanthorpe well so struggled to find the school when the postcode took us elsewhere, and the school itself wasn’t signposted. We still arrived in plenty of time though!
School of Thought
On entering the school field, we saw a wooden set bedecked in red and yellow and complete with the trappings of a circus – including a cannon, trampoline and various colourful platforms and stands. As the show went on, the set was used in all manner of inventive ways.
Visually, two of our favourite moments were the creation of the steamer, and a teetering seesaw during a gin-guzzling scene. The transition from country to country is done simply, but very effectively too!
The design throughout is stunning. The costumes are richly detailed and all look the part, simultaneously capturing the essence of circus and the 1800s. Oh and the elephant is a treat, but I won’t spoil the theatrical magic!
A Motley Crew
Five performers band together as a troupe of circus performers to tell the classic Jules Verne tale. Each actor is full of energy, and they flit between characters (and sometimes genders!) with ease.
Emilio Iannucci plays Phileas Fogg, and swaggers about as an eccentric ringmaster on his mission to circumnavigate the globe. Ali Azhar’s Passepartout is a Parisian clown who adds extra comic relief throughout. He clearly relishes playing alongside Phileas as the straight man, and Detective Fix (Eddie Mann) as the dramatic conflict. Mann plays the role with a slight menace, but never wanders into panto baddie territory.
Ulrika Krishnamurti plays Aouda not just as a damsel in distress, but as a feisty female role that can hold her own. Dora Rubinstein plays a whole host of characters, with a strong physicality and a flair for accents. Her ship’s Captain from Hull is a delight! It was interesting too to hear the story of Nellie Bly alongside the main plot.
The whole cast are skilled in circus tricks, from juggling with balls, knives and fire to slapstick, poi, hoops and even contortion. As an ensemble they all work well together, and I especially enjoyed moments when they interacted with the audience. I was hoping for a rousing song to close the show though, in celebration of Fogg‘s accomplishment.
Flagging it Up
With some low sound levels, microphones cutting in and out and the windy rustle of twenty or so flags, it was difficult to focus on the action at points, even sat near the front. Such are the perils of outdoor theatre in the British summertime though, and the cast managed admirably as playing cards flew about and ribbons became tangled. On the plus side however, the wind enhanced some of the stormier scenes at sea – with realistic effects provided by Mother Nature!
The rain held off thankfully (yes, the show does go on in wet weather) and the novelty of outdoor touring theatre made a few technical hiccups excusable. A top tip too is to bring camping chairs; two hours and ten minutes is a fairly long time to sit out on the grass!
Brave New World
Touring theatre is a new direction for York Theatre Royal, and follows The Travelling Panto last December that visited every ward in York. This is a personal preference but I feel that, overall, the production will be more enjoyable when it ends the run back at the theatre.
Having seen indoor summer shows such as Swallows and Amazons, this seemed more immersive on stage, largely down to being able to control the performing conditions more easily I imagine. Indoors it will benefit from better acoustics and theatrical lighting too. Saying that, touring open-air theatre makes a refreshing change and I applaud the theatre for continuing to get out into the communities.
The suggested age for the show is seven and up, and I would certainly say that our five-year-old became restless at points. He loved the circus sequence in the second act though, and being sniffed and observed under a magnifying glass by the quirky Detective Fix! Our seven-year-old fared better generally and really enjoyed the action-packed story and colourful characters.
Inventive storytelling, slick circus skills and a timeless tale told with bundles of energy. So roll up, roll up to book for some family fun this summer!
MAGIC RATING
VALUE FOR MONEY
OVERALL
Around The World in 80 Days tours Archbishop Holgate’s School next then Joseph Rowntree, before a run at the Main House from August 25th. Tickets start from £15 and can be booked on the Theatre Royal website
Disclaimer: Tickets were kindly provided for this performance, however all opinions are honest and are our own.
Review Wizard 