• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides
  • Ed Fringe

Ed Fringe 2016: Red and the Wolf at Greenside Nicholson Square

August 18, 2016 by Felicity Huxley-Miners Leave a Comment

Review of: Red and the Wolf
Produced by:
Prospero Theatre
Price:
£10 / £7

Reviewed by: Felicity Huxley-Miners
Rating:
4
On August 18, 2016
Last modified:August 18, 2016

Summary:

A dark and imaginative re-telling of the classic fairytale Red and The Wolf. No longer for children, this gripping story is punctuated with elements of poetry, physical theatre and hideous fantasy.

More Details

‘The Forest is alive, it lives, it breaths and it waits.’ Red and The Wolf is a sinister adaptation of the classic Red Riding Hood fable in a world which exists outside time and reality. The forest transcends its setting and blurs the lines between willful fantasy and the bleak reality of war.

Red and the Wolf is devised by the cast with book and direction by creative director Beth Wood. This is Prospero Theatre’s second production in Edinburgh as they make their fringe debut this year following previews in London. They are an inclusive theatre company, meaning the cast is made up of actors from a range of backgrounds, ages and abilities but also includes actors with disabilities enabling ‘a unique perspective when devising performance’.

This is the element which really sets Red apart from the rest. It is so powerful to see such a diverse cast on stage working dynamically together as a seamless blend of disabled and able-bodied actors create challenging, dark work. Red and The Wolf doesn’t soften the brutality of war. And nor should it.99053a81167e27f3c65dac30f6e94ca1_original

Red is on the cusp of womanhood, her mother all but destroyed by the conflict it is her grandmother she, and all the women turn to for strength and guidance. There are moments of lust and excitement as Red encounters the wolf and the story is beautifully undercut with quiet moments of warmth and tenderness between Red and her Grandmother, vital in such a stark setting.

The physical commitment from all was outstanding as the forest blurred into the wolves it concealed then back into the soldiers who were tearing it apart and the children of the conflict, neither dead nor alive but at one with the forest narrated throughout.

The action took place on a starkly decorated stage, dramatically lit and subtly underscored throughout with stunning music by David Rowan. The sound of the forest was ceaseless; a subtly unsettling score, eerie noises from the actors as hidden creatures or, most frightening of all, the forest conspicuous in its silence.

This ensemble piece was a brave and bold foray into the unknown with stunning music and strong performances depicting the bravery of the men and women ravaged by war. This is Red as you have never seen her before.

Avatar

Author: Felicity Huxley-Miners

Filed Under: Review Tagged With: Edinburgh Fringe 2016

Join the discussion Cancel reply

Hands Face & Empty Space / Sherry Coenen got on her bike to deliver bread & tomatoes

On the 17th March, it will be exactly one year since UK theatre came to an overnight standstill. Every day [Read More]

Hands Face & Empty Space / Jenny Gould on swapping from live to online music & arts

On the 17th March, it will be exactly one year since UK theatre came to an overnight standstill. Every day [Read More]

Hands face & Empty Space / Cecilia Gragnani on being a migrant artist in a pandemic

On the 17th March, it will be exactly one year since UK theatre came to an overnight standstill. Every day [Read More]

Hands Face & Empty Space / Sarah Chew on life drawing and Zoom

On the 17th March, it will be exactly one year since UK theatre came to an overnight standstill. Every day [Read More]

Hands Face & Empty Space / Emily Beecher on being a reluctant producer and unproducer

On the 17th March, it will be exactly one year since UK theatre came to an overnight standstill. Every day [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • Sherry Coenen got on her bike to deliver bread & tomatoes
  • Sarah Chew on life drawing and Zoom
  • Jenny Gould on swapping from live to online music & arts
  • Does Small to Mid Scale Theatre Touring Actually Work?
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • EdFringe 2018 - Hot Brown Honey at Gilded Balloon Teviot
  • Katy Owen: Auditioning for Oxford School of Drama
  • Jack and the beanstalk @ Belgrade Theatre
  • Where Are The Women In Theatre?
  • Avatar

    Felicity Huxley-Miners
    Contributor

  • August 18th, 2016
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • Facebook56TweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2021 · Blue Pie Media

    Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

    Email sent!