THEATRE: WOMEN OF TROY

Published on Thursday 14 August 2008 21:00

WOMEN OF TROY *** C CENTRAL (VENUE 54)

IT'S a brave company who perform in a pitch-black, small open-plan space, but theatre troupe Belt Up (Nothing to See/Hear) pull it off.

To say too much about the beginnings of this production would spoil it, but suffice to say the audience immediately feel as isolated and enslaved as the women of the play's title.

Those unfamiliar with Euripides's play – a tragedy of a city torn apart; the women left to fend for themselves – will take some time to get used to the flow and context of the piece.

A hugely able cast do remarkably well, manoeuvring around the space, small torches in hand, the intonation and barely lit movements of their bodies having to tell a story that their facial expressions cannot.

The end result is brave and innovative, but pace and drama is occasionally lost and the script is slightly clunky in places. That aside, this is a well executed departure from the hum-drum classical interpretations so often seen.

• Until 25 August. Today 8:30pm