Step Behind The Stage
Venus and Adonis
The Arts Theatre, Cambridge - 09/06/2026
Review by Alex King
Photo Credit: Robert Day
Under the blanket of the bubonic plague, William Shakespeare turned to poetry instead of plays. It was at this time that he would write Venus and Adonis, an adaptation of a portion of the Metamorphoses which became what most believe to be his very first publication and now sits amongst The Bard’s most acclaimed works. Over 400 years later, Gregory Doran and the RSC adapted the piece into an artful theatrical piece that two decades later still brings audiences new and old into this world of comedy, sensuality, and romance.
The poem tells the story of Venus, the goddess of love, who is head over heels for the staggeringly handsome Adonis but unfortunately for her he does not feel the same way and instead has a head for hunting the feral boar. A simple story, yet Shakespeare’s words transform it into an indulgent tale full of passion, whimsy, rejection, and tragedy. However, this production is not a mere retelling of the poem; instead, the poem is visualised by a tapestry of truly beautiful scenes that use expertly crafted puppetry supported by elegant music and terrific narration to bring Venus and Adonis to life in mesmerising style.
The stage is deceptively simple. Rob Jones’ design sees two stands flank a puppet-sized version of an ornate, traditional stage with a second performance space slightly in front of it. The talented Nick Lee and Simon Russell Beale first take their seats either side of the stage before a singular puppet begins to write as the production begins. Over the next 60 minutes, the story unfolds through puppets of various shapes and sizes that emerge from the wings and break beyond the confines of the unsuspecting front stage. Behind it lies a beautiful space adorned by a staggered set design where both marionette and shadow puppets perform scenes at various points. One of the production’s major strengths is the constant surprises that occur throughout the piece, with the appearance of a variety of puppets and styles that all tell the story and reach the climax with a majestic reveal that took the breath of the entire audience.
What makes Doran’s adaptation so enchanting is the use of the aforementioned puppets that take inspiration from Bunraku, the traditional Japanese art of puppet theatre. Each is exquisitely crafted and designed by Lyndie Wright and her team, who have created characters that exude life even with no fixed expressions. From the fleeting dogs that appear as shadows to the poem’s title characters, Wright brings a definitive style to every puppet on stage that results in a coherent world that brings you even further into their world. To comment on one in particular feels like a disservice to the rest, but one of the most captivating scenes depicts the legend of the wild boar through shadow puppetry, which is beautifully cinematic. The way in which the puppets and scenery move evokes the movements of a film camera gliding through a set and bringing focus to the creature, and is achieved spectacularly by the team.
Photo Credit: Lucy Barriball
To single out a puppeteer is impossible. The five performers work together flawlessly to bring life to these puppets in a way that feels beyond animatronic in the way they are so perfectly in sync with each other when performing. The way they flow around each other feels no different from a highly choreographed ballet that is executed to perfection and breathes life into these inanimate objects in a way that feels otherworldly.
Their talents as puppeteers bring such a tangibility to the world on stage. Every small detail that would be forgotten by a lesser company is carefully realised. From Venus brushing her hands together after getting up, to Adonis’ foot searching for the floor as he floats, to the intricate sequences and dances the two characters share, the incredible attention to detail that the team have is integral in making these puppets more than just props, but fully alive characters.
In addition to operating the puppets, the performers again break the confines of the front stage to draw the audience into this world with non-verbal sounds used to humorous effect, or by using their own breath to mimic the boar’s exhale to further the tension and danger. These moments are evidence of the effort put into the details of the production.
Accompanying the puppeteers, musician Nick Lee and stage veteran Simon Russell Beale serve as narrator and musical guide respectively. Beale’s tone is warm and full of energy throughout the poem as he recites each word with enthusiasm and character. Small inflections and changes for both Venus and Adonis not only further entrance the audience into the tale but also help differentiate the characters’ lines that could easily get crossed in the wordy way of Shakespearean language, especially with only one person speaking. Beale’s soft but powerful performance serves as an excellent guide through the narrative, which only further supports this production being seen not just as an adaptation, but a live storybook. Additionally, Nick Lee’s recurring instrumentals help in setting the tone for scenes as well as accompanying longer stretches of puppetry without words. With an acoustic guitar, Lee’s soothing melodies, arranged by John Woolf and Stevon Russell, almost feel like signalling a new chapter in the story and are a welcome addition to the poem’s story.
What I believe makes this production so special is how universal it is. Shakespeare’s words are legendary, but even if you didn’t understand a word of it, you are still drawn into the world and story through the gorgeous visuals on display. The puppetry, the narration, and the music are all fantastic in their own right, but together they combine to create a truly beautiful, magical piece of theatre that can be enjoyed by everyone who is lucky enough to witness it. For the past twenty years, The RSC’s Venus and Adonis has performed this poem and its not hard to see why. It is a production that is full of laughter, heartache, and wonder, performed by an extraordinarily dynamic cast who work as one to create a wondrous adaptation of William Shakespeare’s work.
Cast on the Night:
Simon Russell Beale - Narrator
Nick Lee - Musician
Bartolomeo Bartolini - Puppeteer
Edie Edmundson - Puppeteer
Lee Maeda - Puppeteer
Rachel Leonard - Puppeteer
Sarah Wright - Puppeteer