Forget the slow-motion fight scenes in the most recent National Theatre production of Coriolanus – this small-scale offering from the Acting Gymnasium isn’t messing about. Sharp, slick and with a palpable sense of urgency, I wondered if the strong start was to be sustained to the end. If it ebbed and flowed – and it did – this was only to the production’s advantage, because there is such a thing as being so quick-paced that the show feels rushed, and the audience somewhat short-changed. Not here, in what comes across as a decisive and forthright show all round, without bamboozling the audience by proceeding too speedily.
A couple of cloth backdrops dominated the rear of the stage but otherwise the set was not only uncluttered but bare, technically leaving little to distinguish, say, “The Capitol” (Act II Scene II) and “A highway between Rome and Antium” (Act IV Scene III). A reliance was therefore, by default as well as by design, placed on the dialogue itself, with many a word spoken in anger – this just wasn’t the sort of show to even think about dabbling in sentimentality. The fight scenes, then, were thoroughly convincing: it’s often said by people who have witnessed altercations in reality that everything happens so quickly, and that’s very much the case here.
I hesitate, however, to describe it as Shakespeare on steroids, even if it isn’t long before the first slaying comes along. There’s a fair amount of makeup going on that makes the various soldiers and military leaders quite authentic in terms of being in miscellaneous states of battle-weariness. A heatwave, or at least a heatwave by British standards, might well have helped to make these lads look like they’ve sweated it out in battle. There was, as one might expect from a tragedy whose story is about military prowess, plenty of stage blood – and from a director who once told me some years ago he didn’t think stage blood was necessary for an actor to die a good death on stage.
This isn’t one for the squeamish, then. The production allows the audience to make contemporary parallels for themselves – Coriolanus (Aryan Chavda) refuses to indulge in populism. Yet central to the narrative is the idea that the citizens who build someone up are quite capable of changing their minds and can tear them down with just as much, if not more, vehemence.
The costumes were a curious choice, with swords galore amongst the soldiers but not a shield between them. Dressed in long leather jackets, I couldn’t quite work out whether they were fashion enthusiasts or members of a rock or even heavy metal band. They couldn’t have been motorcyclists – the jackets were too long for that. Either way, there was a literal interpretation of ‘you live by the sword, you die by the sword’. Perhaps if you prefer productions of Coriolanus that keep all the political speeches in, you might be frustrated with the truncations in this one. Otherwise, it’s been sliced and diced and served up as a compelling feast for the senses. A very worthy and highly watchable night out.
Review by Chris Omaweng
Set in a post-apocalyptic landscape, Coriolanus, a fierce and proud Roman general, earns fame after defeating Rome’s enemies, especially at Corioli. Despite his military success, he despises the common people and refuses to flatter them for political gain. Urged to seek public office, his arrogance alienates citizens, leading to his banishment. In anger, he allies with his former enemy Aufidius and marches against Rome. As destruction looms, his mother, Volumnia, pleads with him to spare the city. Moved by her words, he relents, choosing honour over revenge. His decision saves Rome but seals his fate, as he is killed for betraying his allies in return.
Coriolanus – Aryan Chavda
Aufidius – Aranan Wijayasooria
Volumnia – Helen Probert
Virgilia – Maja Szewczuk
Menenius – Tom Hilton
Cominius – Keeler Mears
Sicinius – Brian O’Toole
Brutus – Ilya Romanov
Valeria – Hannah Clansey
Lartius – Sav Indrakumar
Aedile – Alexandros Georgiadis
Adrian – Hameed Abdelbaky
Citizen/Roman – Fabio Greenwood
Senator – Sovati Smith
Volscian – Yavor Alexandrov
Citizen 1 – Ruairí Douglas
Citizen 2 – Alethea Shirilan
Citizen 3 – Andrew Fernandes
Servants/Messengers – Kary Stewart, Shalvi Singh, Marcia Ying
By William Shakespeare
Adapted and directed by Gavin McAlinden
Camille Godechoux – Designer
Jonathan Simpson – Lighting Designer
CORIOLANUS
Network Theatre
6 to 11 July 2026
