Running at just over two hours (including one interval) and with their well chosen, ensemble cast of seventeen actors, SECRET HOUSE has expertly delivered their fast-paced version, plus their well timed tweaks easily delighted the opening night audience.
Stunningly retold by director Sean O’Riordan, this ensemble piece is well worth seeing at least twice during its very limited run at The Depot Theatre. This adaptation of CYMBELINE repeatedly delivers on many levels, a quite brilliant but confronting evening of great entertainment.
Shakespeare’s rarely performed CYMBELINE, is a very dark comedy set in ancient Britain, and contains the dramatic themes of innocence and jealousy.
CYMBELINE has a very convoluted plot, with very familiar characters as found in many of his iconic works. Innogen is the only living heir of the KING CYMBELINE, but has secretly married her sweetheart Posthumus Leonatus, and Posthumus Leonatus is banished from the kingdom without his wife.
Set/Costume Designer Angelika Nieweglowski, has built this unique set by creating solid walls composed of broken wooden pallets, and a further collection of unbroken wooden pallets, that are frequently moved and shifted and stacked to become exactly what is required for each new scene/setting.
Almost every character has been deliberately costumed with torn and tattered fabrics, to my mind indicating a civilisation nearing its end, adding an extra atmosphere that gives almost post-apocalyptic expectations that are later mirrored, in the violent blood and carnage on the battlefield.
Cast included Deborah An, Jane Angharad, Alison Benstead, Alex Brown, Tom Coyne, Morgan Junor-Larwood, Celia Kelly, Dave Kirkham, Ben Scales, Keturah Sheen, Roger Smith, James Smithers, Romney Stanton.
Secret House presented CYMBELINE by William Shakespeare at the Depot Theatre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville between the 5th and 15th October.