REVIEW: Life of Pi at the Everyman Theatre

Cheltenham

This extraordinary production of Life of Pi, based on the novel of the same name by Yann Martel, follows the adventures of Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel, a young child from Pondicherry who becomes stranded at sea with a Royal Bengal tiger. Exploring themes of spirituality, religion, reality, hope, life, death, and family, Life of Pi is an enduring tale, one which we were extremely excited to see at the amazing Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham.

 

 

This production was adapted from the novel for the stage by Lolita Chakrabarti, directed by Max Webster, with the puppetry directed by Finn Caldwell. The production has won five Laurence Olivier Awards and five UK Theatre Awards, and deserves every one of them.

The play is an absolute treat for the eyes, with incredible costumes, staging, puppetry, and bright, beautiful colours filling the stage throughout. The directors transform the Everyman into the ocean, somehow creating stars that drift across the audience and waves that crash against Pi’s boat in perilous times.

 

 

The puppetry for the Bengal tiger, Richard Parker, is breath-taking - the way the tiger moves around the stage has a commanding presence, and the sound effects from the puppet masters breathe life into the creature. The other animals are also life-like in the way they move and gallop around the stage, such as the luminescent fish that flit around Pi’s boat in the middle of the ocean.

The human actors mustn't be overlooked. Every one of them brings enthusiasm, humour, and heart to the stage, exploring the themes of the story as well as helping Pi through their difficult situation. For such a small cast, they manage to create huge scenes such as a bustling marketplace with incredible ease. Just like Pi’s impossible story, this production really must be seen to be believed.

 

Please note that this production has sudden loud sounds and flashing lights. Some scenes may be unsuitable for very young children due to violence towards animals. In addition to levelling up the staging, the Everyman has updated their accessibility for performances, including captions at the side of the stage to subtitle the performance. I found this to be a great addition as it helps audience members who might not catch every line of dialogue, especially over the loud yet immersive music and sound effects.

Life of Pi is showing at the Everyman from 11th - 15th June, so you only have a few days left to grab your tickets to this amazing production! I would absolutely recommend it - it’s not one to miss!

Review by Leah

 

 

The Mystery Reviewer

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