REVIEW: 1797 - The Mariner's Revenge By Mark Knightley at Old Royal Naval College until 12 November 2022

‘A real sense of time and place’ ★★ ½

HistoryRiot, the co-producers of this show (with Tramshed), state that they ‘exist to connect people with the UK’s past’. Indeed, there was a moment during the performance of The Mariner’s Revenge where the history and majesty of the location’s past was mirrored through a small oval window by the twinkling lights of Canary Wharf - past, present and future juxtaposed in a neat (if slightly pretentious) pose.

Alas, this show does not wholly give the splendid Old Royal Naval College the performance it deserves but there is much love, thought and artistry at play here - to my mind it just needed to apply some theatre ‘basics’.

Writer Mark Knightley plays the ‘The Mariner’ who we meet lying injured in a hospital, seemingly drifting in & out of reality and consciousness, and with only a stuffed albatross as a friend. Tapping and chattering away, the bird (voiced by Norma Butikofer) seems to goad the ailing seaman who talks in not-quite Coleridge-esque rime.

(Greenwich) Meantime, we learn that Nelson himself is dining downstairs - ‘the guests are met, the feast is set’ - hosting amongst others a sea captain (Daniel Chrisostomou) whom we learn the Mariner blames for his unfortunate situation.

It’s a decent set up and we are gradually moved through two other rooms where the main action takes place and there is singing, squawking and dancing from a hard working cast. The audience is encouraged to join in and there is a real sense of time and place - you can’t fault the energy and the ambition. Butikofer is luminous when playing the ‘human incarnation’ of the albatross, and there is the odd bawdy line and moment to keep everyone on their toes. For a small production the use of sound and lighting brought much to proceedings but I felt that the rooms lacked some period detail ‘love’ - an opportunity missed.

The Mariner’s condition leads us to never really understand what is real and what is not - thus any semblance of linear plot goes out of the window. My major issue was the pacing of different scenes - too long and meandering or, conversely, far too short when there was potential for interesting dissection and dissemination of information. The physical theatre is overblown and over-done - it’s the moments of calmness and poignancy which hold the gaze. Indeed, the denouement is almost chillingly moving, both sweet and touching with a sense of dread.

There is a great story to be told here and, in the Old Royal Naval College, there is a venue to tell some tales. For me, The Mariner’s story would have worked better with more of a straight telling - much of the movement and posturing became un-necessary and (sorry) a bit tedious.

I live close to Greenwich and thus wholly commend the work and vision of Woolwich-based Tramshed and, indeed, of HistoryRiot who collectively have looked to give a sense of history, community and identity. Much to like.

1797 - The Mariner's Revenge By Mark Knightley at Old Royal Naval College 13 October - 12 November 2022

Box Office https://ornc.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/43361?catID=43433

Reviewer: Paul Maidment

Paul had a long career at the BBC where he ran a number of commercial / digital businesses and he now consults to the creative content sector. His love of theatre came from his wife whom he met at university and he has been attending shows ever since. In 2021/22 Paul was a member of The Olivier Awards public panel which re-enforced his belief in theatre as the most exciting and engrossing cultural medium.