Edinburgh International Festival 2024
PENTHESILEA
Internationaal Theater Amsterdam
Genre: Theatre
Venue: The Lyceum
Festival: Edinburgh International Festival
Low Down
This production is a combination of mise en scène that is inspired, it’s well performed by a cast of nine actors, physical gestures are used very effectively and pushed exaggerated reactions are right on. This is gutsy and seductive, and like a slow dance of death! Make no mistake this is a tragedy and bloody. But the magnetic acting and bold production is electric – to the very last moment!
Review
The UK premiere of Heinrich von Kleist’s Penthesilea plays at the Edinburgh International festival in August 2024 presented by the International Theater Amsterdam. Directed and adapted by Eline Arbo this is a bold and sensual retelling of this dramatic story of Penthesilea, the Queen of the Amazons and her all female society of warriors who can only have sex with a man they have defeated in battle.
During the Trojan War, Achilles catches Penthesilea’s eye and now she needs to defeat him on the battlefield. They are both attracted to each other and things get complicated! Would a man like Achilles actually be beaten by Penthesilea and her Amazons? This story tries to work this out with, as might be expected, many ups and downs to ego and reality all for the search of love.
On a dusty wide open stage characters in sexy black costumes walk around. Instruments are lowered down onto the huge set and powerful silhouettes appear, one is dragging a microphone stand – it’s all very moody and offers an air of expectations of what might come next.
Characters speak telling us what’s happening – spoken in Dutch with English surtitles – and Achilles and his Greek army appear. Penthesilea is physical and gestural in her expressions before the Trojans forces fight the Amazons. The visual storytelling is fascinating and several interesting characters and situations appear, such as a guitarist, one who physicalises some of the narration and dialogue. Fog billows around the set to deep bass rhythmic music and bright pulsating lights, it’s sensory and reverberatingly visual! Exciting percussion sounds played live while horses and riders are falling, a performer sings while playing the piano, it is all poignant and visually stunning.
Who is the victor in all of this? Can anyone win?
Scenes with Achilles and Penthesilea are suitably erotic and physical. They also have humorous moments together, they tease each other, are tender and they even agree to rock out! The demonstrative Amazons take over for a while, as they want their gender to dominate with fascinating results. There are interesting discussions about whether men are capable of love. When Achilles is near, the Queen is magnificent and each group is like a supportive family, making decisions together.
Characters wear a fascinating mix of eclectic and stylish costumes by Alva Brosten that are rich and inventive in design. The lighting design by Varja Klosse is exquisite with many unique looks and special lights at angles that swathe across the stage and unusual setting.
There is a beautiful scene of slow motion movement foreshadowing the end. Dramatic, daring set pieces rise up above the stage as the scene transitions to the couple lying on the ground. The bold set design is by Pascal Leboucq.
This production is a combination of mise en scène that is inspired, it’s well performed by a cast of nine actors, physical gestures are used very effectively and pushed exaggerated reactions are right on. This is gutsy and seductive, and like a slow dance of death! Make no mistake this is a tragedy and bloody. But the magnetic acting and bold production is electric – to the very last moment!
