Wendy Beckett’s new play, Sappho, receives its English language premiere at Southwark Playhouse following success in Greece.
It offers a satirical spin on the Lesbos poet and how she may relate to modern times.
Crafted with a narrator and chorus, Sappho promises “to add to the canon of queer stories,” relevant in a “fluid world, free of prejudice.”
Sappho (Georgie Fellows) is in love with one Adora (Eleanor Kane), but her parents are planning an arranged marriage for her, one of convention and convenience.
As the gods are called upon to intervene, will her sacrifice prove to be for the good of democracy in Lesbos?
The role of narrator is played by Emmanuel Akwafo, who is funny and confident. Although the performance is central, it does threaten to unbalance proceedings at times.
In contrast, Fellows, Kane, and Jumoké Fashola (playing Cleo, mother of Sappho) give measured readings of their roles. There’s tragedy and triumph, resilience, and reality, here if you strip off all the frills.
Beckett – who directs Sappho as well as writing it – has brought in contemporary political references that fall somewhat flat.
Brexit (Lexit) and Rwanda, and the issue of superior class influence, sit awkwardly with a celebration of sexual expression and the rainbow flag.
Aphrodite (Velile Tshabalala) may speak of her polyamory and pansexuality, but as we are regularly informed, it will take many centuries for the human race to catch up.
The chorus makes vaguely feminist statements (“we should feel safe to walk the streets at night”), but this is left unexplored or lost in broad comic strokes.
A disco-lite set of sparkles and pseudo-circus props give this play a party feel, an influencer’s paradise. The sky’s stars are hastily assembled at the Narrator’s request, bodies are crudely grasped for potential photo ops.
I liked the parallels on arranged marriages between mortals and gods, and also enjoyed the aspects of movement and physical theatre, and the lighting design by Adam King.
Sadly, this Sappho is too silly and too uneven to really do justice to its subject and her work.
**.5
Sappho continues at Southwark Playhouse Elephant with tickets here.
Image credit: Mark Senior