Culture
REVIEW: Tess by Ockham’s Razor at New Theatre Royal Portsmouth
What would you say is the best way to do a book to theatre adaptation? Well I think ‘Tess’ by Ockham’s Razor could be the answer to that question. On offer at New Theatre Royal Portsmouth at the moment is ‘Tess’ by Ockham’s Razor, and all I can really say is wow! This is an adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s classic novel, ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’. It’s a story that has already been adapted to the screen, and to be honest I wasn’t quite sure how it would transfer to the stage. I could vision it being performed as a standard play, but could I vision it as a mixture of contemporary circus and theatre? My answer should have absolutely been yes! Alex Harvey and Charlotte Mooney have adapted and directed this masterpiece to perfection. Along with producer Alison King, a fantasy vision was seen – and they have managed to bring that vision to life.
This show showcases the storytelling ability of dance, circus, and movement; as well as the athleticism and range of talent its performers have. The story is one that still has major relevance in today’s society with its incredibly nuanced evocation of female relationships, sexual desires, consent, privilege, and poverty. In this particular adaptation, it is all told as a flashback through Tess herself as a narrator. She is the only character with dialogue, the rest of the cast (including ‘Memory Tess’) tell their part of the story through the incredibly energetic and powerful nature of circus and body movement. I just love this! It’s such a creative way of showing the power, loss and and endurance of the story – as we see how the performers bodies react with the extreme strength and physicality of circus. It seems like subliminal messaging at its finest almost.
Just stunning.
There are only seven in the cast but they have to be seven of the most talented performers I have seen. All of them are so strong and powerful, you get hooked on their every movement and emotion. These aren’t just performers, they’re athletes. I can guarantee that you will feel a wide range of emotions whilst watching this show. There were many times I was audibly laughing, and there were times when you could hear a pin drop in the auditorium. Just stunning. Heading the cast was Hanora Kamen as ‘Tess Durbeyfield’, and her narration was spot on. She wasn’t only telling the story, but recalling speech in different accents as the cast was performing the relevant flashback. In fact there were many times when the cast would be performing something different to what Kamen would be narrating, and you would be consuming two different things at once – but it didn’t feel difficult.
Kamen’s partner in crime was Lila Naruse as ‘Tess Durbeyfield’ but the ‘memory’ version. These two were so good together that you would actually forget that you were watching/listening to two different people. The trio of girls was Lauren Jamieson, Victoria Skillen, and Shannon Kate Platt. The connection that these three share is phenomenal, and their comedic moments were fantastic. ‘Alec D’Urberville’ was played by Joshua Fraser who’s ring routine won’t leave my mind anytime soon; and ‘Angel Clare’ was played by Nat Wittingham who’s performance was beautifully powerful. The strength, commitment, and attention to detail of this cast is fantastic and certainly doesn’t go unnoticed. The standing ovation tonight only proved that – Bravo!
The set was actually incredibly intricate, whilst also being very stripped back. It was basically just lots of wood, rope, and materials – that when placed together with the dynamic movements from the cast, created a piece of innovative theatre. The cast actually end up building all of the set and there is always so much going on, that it feels like incredibly organised chaos. One thing that sticks in my mind as extremely effective was the way in which they portrayed Tess’ horse, and the way they would walk on the two planks whilst staying in place. It was new, it was fresh, and I loved it! The lighting and projection was also simple but added the perfect amount of ambience or warmth/cold when it needed to. Visually gorgeous.
I still can’t get over how beautiful and impressive the whole thing was.
The music was matched perfectly to the show, but sometimes was very repetitive in all honesty. It was only a soundtrack that was being played, but as a friend rightly said, if it was a live band it probably would’ve taken away from the show because of how much was going on. In fact there were times where the music was too loud which just overloaded the senses. I think what really makes this show is all of the above mixed with the brilliant choreography. Choreographer, Nathan Johnston, cannot be credited enough as without his work, I don’t think the show works. One piece of movement that gets revisited multiple times, forwards and in reverse (if you know you know), is the sequence of ‘Tess’ and ‘Angel’ when they make their way along the trail to the farm. The movement of the set and cast had to be inch perfect, both in timing and spacing, and that’s exactly what it was. Literally mesmerising!
Overall, ‘Tess’ is an incredibly impressive spectacle. It’s something new and exciting, and I’m interested to see what Ockham’s Razor will produce next. The story was easily followable, and the way in which it’s told is beautifully powerful and physical. Mixing contemporary circus into theatre adaptations should now be a benchmark to hit I think. I still can’t get over how beautiful and impressive the whole thing was. Whatever part of theatre you’re into, I think this is a show that you should definitely see if you’re lucky enough to get the chance. The cast are superb and the production as a whole will be unlike anything you’ve quite seen. ‘Tess’ is touring until June this year before further dates for spring 2025 are announced. I wish everybody involved the best of luck going forward, I know I’m already looking at when I can come and see this again.
If something looks perfect from the outside does it mean it actually is?
That’s the concept that director Jay Roach brings to life in the new movie The Roses released in August 2025.
The Roses is a reimagining of the 1989 film The War of the Roses which was originally based on Warren Adler’s 1981 novel.
Although unlike the novel the characters instead are shown to struggle with their different careers either rising or falling.
It has been adapted, in my opinion, to make it resonate with women a lot more as in both the novel and first film the women were stay at home mothers who felt unsatisfied.
This appears to be one of the main reasons for the divorces with Barbara (Kathleen Turner) eventually turning to a catering business.
However, within the new modernised version Ivy’s (Olivia Colman) successful career is a point of contempt for Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch).
While it starts off with a more realistic depiction of parents struggling with the loss of a career and a start of a new one, it slowly divulges itself away from the typical divorcee movie.
I watched this movie at the Everyman (luxury I know!) and the grip it had on me as an audience member was outstanding.
With the selection of actors involved in this movie it’s no surprise that there is a mix of comedy and drama making it a satirical black comedy.
While it was delightful to watch, I feel that some audience members might criticise the realism of the movie.
Yet I go to the cinema to be transported from real life so the mix of realism and shock factor was highly entertaining.
A contrasting mix of comedy and darkness
The performances from the actors was exactly what the movie needed.
The chemistry, or lack thereof, between Colman and Cumberbatch was so believable that you would think that they were married in real life.
Their delivery of both the comedy and the rage was again so believable that it sucked me as the audience into what was the “dirty laundry” of their personal lives.
With a supporting cast including Andy Samberg, Allison Janney and others their characters mostly brought the comedy relief needed in to break the movie up.
They also gave us a contrast to the main relationship being shown which helped us recognise how some of the actions were exaggerated for our benefit.
However, some critics online have noted that while it is undeniably a satirical dark comedy, the dark comedy seemed to be held back some times, therefore not always giving it the edge it needed.
I think that for a 15 certificate movie it had just the right amount to stretch over its wide audience.
Another criticism that The Roses received was that the contrast between the comedy and cruelty was sometimes so abrupt that it didn’t hit as hard as it could have.
At some points the comedy seemed out of place which almost gave the film a sort of jarring feel as they changed between the emotions.
The ending is ambiguous which can have mixed reactions from the audience.
Some may like to have the movie tied up neatly at the end whereas others like that they can believe what they want to believe.
I am the latter in the case of this movie as I enjoyed the fact that I could believe either the more macabre ending or not.
To me the ending, without giving any spoilers, had me on the edge of my seat with a real 360 turn.
Again it had the perfect amount of shock factor and comedy which highlighted the overall tone throughout.
I felt that it drew the entire film together nicely especially with the ending performance from Coleman and Cumberbatch.
Winchester original artist Sam Bishop has been releasing music for almost a decade but after not releasing a new song for the last two years, Just a Little is set to be release this Friday, February 7th.
Sam first got into music when he was in secondary school, after watching Imagine Dragons in the O2 he fell in love with their support act.
As an only child he has always been a creative person, writing stories and songs in his free time.
The first thought has never been how can I perform live but how can I write?
Sam also enjoyed:”I enjoy feeling nervous but eventually acting felt like second nature, so I decided to give music a go.”
After getting into music in school Sam released his first song in 2016.
“It has been trial and error since with each year getting better and better performing and writing more.”
I asked him whether he has always written his own songs, and he explained: “The first thought has never been how can I perform live but how can I write?
“That’s the angle I attack music with.”
For Sam music has always been a way to express how he feels.
But what’s the best part of the writing process?
Well, for Sam it’s the feeling of a song coming together as a whole, he compared the writing process to a tap, that it slowly drips until it starts to flow.
“You get a melody and a good lyric. It feels amazing when it all comes together it’s so special, it’s definitely a process it takes time and trial and error.”
Sam’s new single Just a Little, is no different, going through this same process, and has now come together ready for its release this Friday.
It all started in last summer, when Sam was on a flight from Miami to LA, he wasn’t interested in watching the typical films you find on airplanes, and felt creative, this is where the chorus for Just a Little was born.
Being away from family for a prolonged amount of time through working away and travelling gave Sam the feeling of wanting to be connected and keep in touch with people’s lives whilst being away.
Just a Little is about questioning whether you’re enough.
It’s a song full of vulnerability and expressing that and truly allowing yourself to feel those feelings.
After Sam’s travels he got home and revisited the song, from there it started to take off and really build.
He sent the song to his friend Toby who he describes as an unbelievable guitarist, and an excellent musician.
Toby then worked on the song as a production, whilst Sam worked on the lyrics.
Just a Little was kind of a one off, as a process it was very natural.
By mid-November the song was finished and now is the time for its release.
This song has a different sound to Sam’s previous songs, and he’s excited for people to hear this new style of music from him.
“It’s a very personal song washed under happy and jolly music.
“It’s very current and popular; something you’d expect to hear on the radio.”
Sam hopes that that the release allows people to connect with not just the lyrics but how the song feels.
Following the release Sam has big plans for the next year.
This is the start of a new sound for him, and he hopes more songs like this will follow with maybe one or two before the end of the year.
There are also a number of gigs to be announced for the next three months that he is looking forward to performing.
At the end of our interview Sam said: “Songs will happen, it’s what I love to do it’s so expressive as an art form and it’s something I will always want to do.
“Just a Little was kind of a one off, as a process it was very natural.
After not releasing a song for two years, once the lyrics were finished and he got the song back from Toby he knew this was the one that this would be the re-release of his music as an original artist.
Just a Little is out at midnight February 7th.
For announcements of new music and dates of performances you can follow Sam on Instagram @sambishopmusician.
The wait is over for Winchester’s burger lovers, as a new Five Guys restaurant has opened in the heart of the city centre.
The American burger chain, world famous for its customisable smash burgers and seemingly bottomless fries opened on Monday, December 2nd.
It was a soft launch without any ceremony for the restaurant, but the new staff and management immediately had a growing queue of customers on their hands.
Five Guys has taken one of three units from the former Debenhams department store. The other two are Nando’s which opened last month and Pizza Express.
Founded in Virginia in 1986, Five Guys launched in the UK in 2013 and has become a popular choice for burger lovers, including celebrities such as Tommy Fury, Mollie King, Ed Sheeran, and Maya Jama.
There are now 1,800 restaurants worldwide including 171 in the UK.
The new Winchester branch is expected to be a popular addition to the city’s food scene.
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