REVIEW: Twisted Tales by Box House Theatre at The Cockpit Theatre / Camden Fringe 24 & 25 August 2023

‘some clever twists to the stories’ ★★★

The Box Office Theatre Company from Southampton have brought their physical theatre show Twisted Tales to Camden Fringe. It’s about a group of thespians who stumble upon an ominous book filled with grisly and gory tales. Thereafter they re-enact the stories whilst trapped inside the book. Will they ever truly be free?

The only piece of set on the stage is a huge book which the ensemble open to reveal the stories. Keeping within the boundaries of the pages, the stories unfold:  Little Red Riding Hood; Goldilocks and the Three Bear; Alice in Wonderland and the Saga of the Almighty Vikings.  There are some clever twists to the stories and the company also tap the funny bone, whilst being, just as they promised, gory and grisly. These make the familiar stories fresh and engaging whilst the saga, which might be less familiar to most, isn’t quite as gripping as Nordic drama ‘The Bridge’ or as hilarious as comedy series ‘Norsemen’.  It does, rather alarmingly, have the ring of a traditional tale of heroism.  Revenge is a powerful emotion.  There are some tense and moving moments here which the shorter pieces didn’t achieve.

The company work well together, and those section which are in unison cannot be faulted. Their collective voices are lovely to hear and the occasional solo number, shows that they have some fine singers amongst them. Could they push their work further? It feels a little two dimensional. Bigger and more adventurous friezes might be possible and perhaps some less-familiar stories or even a totally new story using their ability with humour, conflict and tension.   Perhaps then, they would find that they can indeed be free of the pages and tap into the superverse.

Twisted Tales by Box House Theatre at The Cockpit Theatre / Camden Fringe 24 & 25 August 2023

Produced and created by Box House Theatre

https://www.boxhouse.uk/

Reviewed by Heather Jeffery