Collide Theatre bring their weird and wonderful ‘play with songs’ Fabulous Creatures to the Arcola, Dalston.
Written by Quentin Beroud and Emily Louizou, and directed by Louizou, Fabulous Creatures sees three cold killers from Homer’s The Odyssey return as a cabaret act.
Hannah van der Westhuysen is Charybdis, the sea monster. They present the character as a sardonic host, a tough cookie who takes no prisoners. It’s a sharp and knowing performance.
Next is Siren, half-woman, half-bird. Jazz Jenkins makes an assured professional stage debut with her sympathetic sadism and song of destruction.
Then there’s Scylla. Kate Newman draws on her burlesque training and alter ego ‘Have Your Kate and Eat It’ to give a teasing menace to her slavering need to feed.
This isn’t billed as a musical, but is dotted through with songs that are often wryly funny and sometimes downright sad. There is audience interaction and a sense of showtime.
The cabaret theme leads into the backstage visit of a mortal woman in need, who we slowly learn is Clytemnestra, seeking vengeance for the murder of her daughter Iphigenia.
Played by Newman, this woman is perhaps thought the most monstrous of all, but she is given real depth and presence here and a grim backstory, which may lead to more bloodshed.
These four women stand for all those who were ostracised, vilified, or abused for reasons given by men. They are reclaimed from the pages of male mythologists and allowed to stand and fight for their reputations.
These Fabulous Creatures are more than execution squad or cabaret freaks. They burst out of their stories and stand as a challenge to what the old tales might say about them.
Ioli Filippakopoulou gives each woman their own movement and choreography, while Irene Skylakani’s sound design gives a sense of caves and confined places.
David Doyle’s lighting offers a club feel when needed, while Ismin Papaidannou’s set and costume design hints at the fantastic and horrific with a touch of humour.
Fabulous Creatures is a lot of fun to watch, and although it strays off-theme just a bit as the character of Clytemnestra is introduced, it catches itself quickly and moves to a satisfying conclusion.
A provoking look at how the patriarchy dominates women’s lives and decisions, Louizou’s production asks us to reflect on our own prejudice against ‘bitches’ and ‘witches’.
You can see Fabulous Creatures at Arcola’s Studio 2 until 15 Jun 2024 with tickets here.
For more on Collide Theatre check out their website.
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Image credit: Sophie Giddens