Arabian Nights

Published Thursday 16 December 2004 at 16:05 by Julie Watterston

This sublime production of Arabian Nights at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury is beautifully staged and intriguingly performed by its cast of five. The Watermill’s tiny stage is enticingly transformed into the myriad of backstreets of the Persian bazaars, the dusty desert with its camel trains and the magical jewel-laden cave of Jawan the Terrible as well as a woodcutters humble abode and the palace of the Sultan.

The cast eerily greets the audience in the foyer with mystic stares through their thick black eyeliner, creating a perfect ambience for the mostly comic but equally gruesome tales of the parallel lives of Shahzaman/Kazim, played with an evil twinkle by Ryan Coath and Shahryar/Ali, played with appropriate nervousness by Matthew Woodyatt. Robin Samson gives a wickedly enjoyable performance as Jawan - and the Grand Wazir - with Natasha Moore as the sweet-natured, naive Dunyazad and wily Marjiana. Sarah Groarke is wonderfully expressive as the storyteller in her role as Sheherazad, doubling as the Healer Woman.

The production is enthusiastically directed by Andy Brereton with alluring music directed by Janie Armour. The set itself is designed by Gary McCann, who has been well supported by Matt Stelle-Childe, Jo Ashubrn, Leah Crabtree and Jules Fuller, who are respectively responsible for its construction, set sculpture and décor.