Dangerous Games – Theatre Journey by Teatro Vivo ★★★★★
Unmissable show alert! Teatro Vivo’s ‘theatre where you least expect it’ delivers on its exhilarating concept, taking risks with public space, and bringing theatre to deepest South London.
Dangerous Games by Teatro Vivo | Secret Location | 20-25 March in South London, then 29 March – 2 April Weymouth | From £10
Teatro Vivo take a classic story of convoluted scandal – Les Liaisons Dangereuses – and breathe colour and life into it with simplicity, songs and surreal promenade storytelling.
Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ 18th century French twisty story of romantic scheming and shenanigans is transposed to a South London boozer for a punk band reunion. Starting in Deptford’s notorious home of weird and wonderful characters, The Bird’s Nest, one is never quite sure who is in on it! In this environment, the cast seem quite ordinary in their bonkers-ness (yes it is a word)!
A crazy journey then ensues through nearby streets and hidden spaces, including a rather serious public building. Hold onto your hats, as there is audience participation – but it is friendly and non-judgemental, unlike some shows which make fun of their audiences. The irresistible cast of characters encourage you to have fun and let go – this is public art for everyone, taking a highbrow, serious literary classic and making it for the people.
The simplicity of populating real settings with extraordinary characters is astounding, and proves you don’t need huge immersive theatre budgets to make this kind of show work. You just need imagination to make pure theatre magic, and Teatro Vivo have that in spades.
Cheeky to the core, cast members include the devilishly funny Kas Darley, shy, lovelorn and lovable Ben Everitt Riley, lead singer and lover Leann O’Kasi, unstoppable and bonkers Amanda Maud, lothario/trickster Mark Stevenson, librarian straight-man (the irony) Michael Wagg – all bring it and then some!
The musical references and performances are on point, and the finale of live music channeling the likes of Buzzcocks, Riot Grrl and all things punk is a blast! The mood is light but rebellious – and ultimately, Dangerous Games is a thrilling night out for all!
I am Joint Editor at To Do List. I like free, cheap & offbeat London, especially: cabaret, art, theatre, pop-ups, eating out, quirky films, museums, day trips, social enterprise & much more.
