REVIEW: Talking Gods by Arrows and Traps Theatre

'Talking Gods’ is an incredible (and free!) series of productions based on greek myth and set in the modern-day, by Arrows and Traps Theatre. It would be hard to understate what Arrows and Traps have achieved here; all five productions are completely unique and brilliant. 

Ross McGregor’s writing and direction are consistently gripping and moving to watch, as it reframes the context of Persephone, Orpheus, Pygmalion, Aphrodite, and Icarus with sympathy and humour. Each production can effortlessly transition between making you laugh out loud and moving you to tears in just minutes. 

His renditions of the characters effectively link their narratives to grounded experiences which we can connect with as an audience. The complexity of their perspectives, expressed beautifully by the writing and the actors, is what makes each of the productions so individually effective. 

Nicolle Smartt’s breathtaking performance in ‘Persephone’ particularly stands out, as she is able to convincingly switch between playing Hestia, Demeter, and Kora/Persephone throughout the production, with each character feeling equally developed and moving to watch. Benjamin Garrison as Aphrodite is also a stand out performance, bringing depth to this original take on the goddess of beauty. 

The productions are strongest when the actors are performing their intimate monologues, as it is here that both the writing and their ability to bring it to life shine most. Each production combines these monologues with visuals, video, and editing in different ways - much of it is very effective, but some were a little jarring or distracted from the impact of the narrative. 

This did not ever undermine the overall strength of each production, and in many ways, Arrows and Traps have used the fact that they are online productions to their advantage. Each of the stories gains a real sense of intimacy in minimalistic filming style, and the cameras sit closer than we ever could as a live audience. 

Throughout the series one of its real strengths is also the sound design - at times it is great fun, reworking familiar hits into Orpheus’s narrative for example, at others it is able to subtly shift the atmosphere around the characters’ speeches without distracting from them. When it is acting as a score beneath the story, the style remains distinctive and united across the five stories, further adding to the sense that they exist as part of one world. 

As someone who has hugely enjoyed Talking Gods, I cannot recommend it enough. The fact that five productions of this calibre are entirely free to access is a rare and wonderful thing, and I look forward to seeing what Arrows and Traps create next. 

Review by Jasmine Silk

Rating: ★★★★★

Seat: Online | Price of Ticket: Free