This was an extraordinary production, billed as a bold new vision of Thomas Hardy’s classic novel, it created something quite unique.
By Angie Millard
Directed and adapted by Alex Harvey and Charlotte Mooney, the whole ensemble of Ockham’s Razor devised the piece, ably supported in sound design and composition by Holly Khan. Ockham’s Razor describe themselves as using circus, physical theatre and visual art and they felt the novel was the perfect vehicle for their style.
Tess is a true tragic heroine pitted against fate and a hypocritical society, and the company felt that their particular use of circus skills was best suited to convey the depth of emotion in the narrative. The result is a swirling dream-like mass of movement, a precise use of acrobatics in which all landings are soundless. The use of props is ingenious and exact construction of scaffolding and planks creates multiple environments.
The story is told by Tess while the drama unfolds around her. Tess’s illegitimate baby is placed in a cradle which is covered to become a coffin. The cows in the dairy are inflated bags, moving and mooing during milking. The girls are helped across a river by Angel Clare (Nat Whittingham) and writhe seductively as he tries to carry them. Characters are presented in a trice by using circus skills such as Alec D’Urberville (Joshua Frazer) manipulating a huge hoop to demonstrate his superiority.
Above all, the piece is breathtakingly beautiful and effortless. Sound, music and visual effects are an important aspect of staging and Holly Khan, Daniel Denton, Aldeen Malone and Jennifer Cashman provide atmosphere together with the adaptable costuming of Tina Bicat.
Finally, let’s send a round of applause to the multi-talented performers: Hanora Kamen, Joshua Frazer, Lauren Jamieson, Lila Naruse, Victoria Skillen, Shannon Kate Platt and Nat Whittingham..
Don’t miss this!
Tess is being performed at York Theatre Royal until 11 May 2024.