Oedipus 
Rating: ★★★
Venue: Old Vic, London
Cast: Rami Malek, Indira Varma, Nicholas Khan, Joseph Mydell, Cecilia Noble as Tiresias and Nicholas Woodeson 

It’s a cold case but, according to the Oracle, if the murderer of old King Laius is found and punished then all will be well. The people turn to their new King, Oedipus, the man who solved the riddle of the Sphinx, to hunt down the perpetrator and bring salvation. He vows to succeed whatever the cost and so begins an unstoppable pursuit of the truth through a harrowing labyrinth of fear and love.

Oedipus: A dark and captivating reimagining of the Greek classic, brought to life with powerful performances and striking visuals

Sophocles’ Oedipus, written in 429 BC, remains a timeless tragedy. The play follows King Oedipus as he strives to end the water drought plaguing his kingdom, believing that solving the murder of the former King Laius will bring salvation. However, as the story unfolds, the truth takes a dark turn, and everything we thought we knew is turned upside down.

The production opens with a striking dance number, which feels like an impressionist interpretation of movement. This dramatic and lengthy performance immediately sets the tone for the rest of the show. Dance is used effectively throughout, representing the sentiments of the common people, whose voices are never heard. Through their movements, we understand the emotional undercurrent of the kingdom, which serves as a powerful storytelling tool. While these dance sequences are undoubtedly compelling, at times their length can momentarily detract from the narrative.

The first dance ends with Rami Malek at centre stage, and he delivers an exceptional performance as Oedipus. He portrays a troubled, often distant ruler, struggling with both personal and political turmoil. His controlled, rigid movements align perfectly with the character’s internal conflict. Indira Varma, as Jocasta, provides an interesting contrast, bringing vulnerability to her role. Yet, the standout performance comes from Cecilia Noble, playing Tiresias. Although her stage time is limited, she brings much-needed levity and humour to the otherwise heavy atmosphere, offering a welcome contrast to the surrounding drama.

Tom Visser’s lighting design is nothing short of spectacular. The sharp contrasts and colour choices throughout the play heighten the emotional intensity. At the start, the use of dawn and dusk-like hues reflect the kingdom’s crisis, which gradually transitions to whites as rain arrives, symbolising the cleansing of sins.

This visual motif of purification runs deep in the production, subtly woven into the lighting, costumes, and the characters’ journeys. Oedipus is dressed in white, only to be splashed in blood-red when he confronts his sins. Jocasta, on the other hand, is never seen in white, her orange and red attire reflecting her unconscious complicity in her husband’s fate and unrealised sin.

Religion is also cleverly used. The rain, which arrives as a symbolic cleansing, evokes the story of Noah’s Ark, as the sins of the characters are washed away, leaving the innocent behind. The shifts in tone from political unrest to family turmoil mirror the balancing of these forces, creating a constant push and pull of order and chaos.

While the set remains static throughout the performance, which can sometimes feel a bit limiting, the transitions between scenes are flawlessly executed. After intense dance numbers, the stage goes dark, smoothly ushering in new scenes with minimal disruption.

Adapting such a well-known play is always challenging, particularly when the work has been reimagined countless times. This production offers a fresh take with its dark, intense atmosphere, though at times, the execution can feel a bit muddled, leaving some moments unclear. Playing at the Old Vic Theatre until March 29th, Oedipus is a gripping and dramatic interpretation of a classic, sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

You can book tickets to Oedipus, here.

Review by Alex 

**photo credit: Manuel Harlan**