The Theatre Royal is guaranteed to rally excitement for live theatre with its welcoming lobby, stunning ceilings, and spacious seating. I had yet to visit until this showing, and I was happily surprised. My only complaint was the lack of playbills handed out upon entering, but that could be specific to this show.
Entering the theatre, attendees are met with a fun castle set with several levels that the actors could perform on. This proved useful throughout the show as the actors had to quickly move in and out to cover several characters. This production aimed to keep the audience immersed in their medieval world until the very end, as they broke the fourth wall and interacted with attendees several times. From throwing fake vegetables on stage to incorporating popular songs, such as Break Free, this production continued to fight for the viewers' attention. Furthermore, the actors never shied away from giving it their all, fully committed to their characters and every joke and bit of physical comedy, as expected in a slapstick.
While this show’s humour was not my cup of tea and ran a bit long, I’m always grateful to see any form of live theatre. Also, fear not, my friends and the crowd were in fits of giggles. I definitely appreciated the actors' continuous commitment, even when mistakes occurred and improvisation came into play. Ideally, a show goes as written, but moments like these often can make for new silly moments which can work especially well in a comedy. This reminds me of the magic that separates live theatre from any other medium: every performance will be different and new takeaways can occur each time.
King Arthur is no longer playing at the Theatre Royal, however Le Navet Bete is continuing to play this show, along with their original show Treasure Island, throughout the UK. Check out Lenavetbete.com for further information on their upcoming shows.