Woyzeck, Birmingham Rep, 4****: Rod Dungate
Birmingham
Woyzeck: Georg Buchner, Version by Leo Butler
4****
Birmingham Rep Theatre: The House
Runs: 1h 35m, no interval till Sat 23 June
Bham Rep BO: 0121 236 4455
Review: Rod Dungate, 19 June 2018
@Rod_Dungate
@ReviewsGate
A huge, bold, thought-provoking event
Woyzek is a notable production for a number of reasons. It is a community production with a cast of more than 100 performers. It’s a most unusual choice for a community play and Roxana Silbert, who directs, is uncompromising with the play’s themes. The production, therefore, becomes an exciting performance for the audience and a thrilling and learning experience for the community company. In addition, we may note that Silbert is the Rep Artistic Director, clearly a hands-on AD, not one for farming out a tick-box community play.
Buchner’s 19th Century play has been updated and adapted by playwright, Leo Butler. The eponymous Woyzeck has meaning while in the army, though he describes how society is ‘sucking him in.’ Despite all his best efforts as a civilian once peace breaks out, he is unable to effect himself neither in the present nor future. Eventually he destroys all he loves and ultimately himself He is the victim of a society that, ironically, he has spent his youth defending.
It’s bleak. If not a totally mirror of our times, it is in part.
Thomas Pickles is superb as Woyzeck. He is full of energy and cheer, frustration and bewilderment. He is the glue that holds the play together.
There are a great number of strong performances throughout, everyone bringing something unique to their role.
Roxana Silbert merges the huge resources with sensitivity and strength, building a satisfying rhythm as the play moves along. Leo Butler’s adaptation works well in its modern setting and you are constantly reminded of a contemporary term Buchner would not have known – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
This production is a bold venture, and for Birmingham and event.
Thomas Pickles: Woyzeck
Jalleh Alizadeh: Marie
Creative Tea
Director: Roxana Silbert
Associate Director and Choreographer: Rose Kay
Designer: Neil Murray
Assistant Designer: Connie Burley
Lighting Designer: Leo Curran
Composer / Musical Director: Tom Rackham
Voice Coach: Stephen Kemble
Community Company
Gill Adams Fair Queen
Paul Adams Fair King
Ashfaq Ahmed Villager
Amir Ali Showman
Agne Al-Mallak Salsa Dancer
Maria Arroja Ferreira Bhangra Dancer
Rajvinder Beghal Bhangra Dancer
Joanna Bell Villager
Greta Bendinelli Village Girl
Tijan Bobb Construction Worker / Smuggler
Shane Brettle Villager
Dwayne Brown Construction Worker / Soldier
Mohammad Hasib Bullah Construction Worker / Soldier
Susy Bury Villager
Margaret Cash Bhangra Dancer
Ella Cockerton Band
Steph Cole Village Girl
Richard Constable Construction Worker
Claudette Dawson Firearms Dealer
Joseph Patrick Derbyshire Soldier
Tom Derrick Stilt Walker
James Flaherty Firearms Dealer
John Flynn Villager
Tracey Garratt Villager
David Gering-Hasthorpe Construction Worker
Samantha Gessey Old Woman
Joanne Gould Villager
Donna Greatorex Bhangra Dancer
Gemma Harper Villager
Linda Hisgett Doctor
Jeremy Hunt Villager
Liz Hunt Village Girl
Josef Hyland Drum Major
Julie James Soldier
Duval Jefferson Reid Construction Worker / Soldier
Simi Johal Bhangra Dancer
Keanu Johnson Construction Worker / Soldier
Karan Jutlla Bhangra Dancer
Dorothy Lawrence Salsa Dancer
Jason Lee Soldier
Emily Lightfoot Salsa Dancer
Guy Martyr Band / Soldier
Samantha McGrath Trainee Doctor
Richella McPherson Robot
Ria Moeyens Villager
Ellen Mundon Villager
Sabrina Nabi Village Girl
Colin Nelson Villager
Niya Nikolova Villager
Emma O'Brien Soldier
Sharon O'Brien Villager
Thalia Ocean Salsa Dancer
Thomas Oflaherty Band
Nerina Orton Living Statue / Stilt Walker
Aakanksha Rawat Bhangra Dancer
Martin Reynolds Villager
Duval Ried Construction Worker / Soldier
Troy Richards Andres
Gillian Rushton Villager
Elliot Samuels Soldier
Emily Sandford Village Girl
Jade Senior Village Girl
Bik Singh Showman
Karina Smith Salsa Dancer
Kezia Stanley-Gaussen Executive
Alina Starsa Salsa Dancer
Nicolas Sullivan Captain
Kayleigh Talbot Village Girl
Vicki Taylor Villager
Jason Timmington Band
Edwina Turner Villager
Neil Vassell Sergeant
Eliza Wade Village Girl
Rachel Walker Soldier
Xavier Walker Living Statue
Duke Washinghton Villager
Chloe Wassell Village Girl
Callum Watson Soldier
James Williams Soldier
Rieghanne Williams-Yearwood Village Girl
Scott Wilson Band
Jane Winder Trainee Doctor
Tembi Xena Trainee Doctor