A hauntingly beautiful journey is shared at York Theatre Royal this week as Tess brings a groundbreaking new take on a literature classic.
Inspired by Thomas Hardy’s ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’ – which once resided on many schools’ curriculums – this performance provided us with a window into the life of Tess Durbeyfield, a pure woman, pitted against fate and society’s expectations.
Tess is at York Theatre Royal from Wednesday 8 to Saturday 11 May.
This life was certainly no fairytale – inspired by the execution of Elizabeth Martha Brown, which Hardy witnessed at only 16 years of age, it was a memory which tormented him for over 70 years until his withstanding shame moved him to write this story which remains just as agonising and tragic in this retelling.
Ockham’s Razor strays beyond the traditional showcasing of the human body, which so many circus companies build their foundations upon. Instead of championing movements and searching for an immediate gratification, they use their skills to construct real characters, and the struggles and strife that see the audience swapping their applause for deep, silent reflection. The company toyed with this concept for a number of years, before creating this masterpiece with the support of Turtle Key Arts, a must see for any aspiring physical theatre performer.
The cast were flawless in not only their execution of the characters but their partnership onstage, effortlessly navigating intricate direction and choreography by Alex Harvey, Charlotte Mooney and Nathan Johnston. For me, it was their undeniable strength which had me captivated from the very first sequence – it felt at times we were witnessing them float, hover or fly due to their controlled and fluid movements throughout, which was often mesmerising.
The company all deserve recognition for their outstanding talents and their ability to provide movement that transcended the need for narration, however we did have poetic storytelling from the fantastic Hanora Kamen throughout – who, despite technical sound issues at the beginning, played a self-assured and reflective Tess Durbeyfield.
She watched herself within the story, often mirroring mannerisms, as Lila Naruse embodied every inch of the character; we watched her face the trials and tribulations of Tess and her battle against societal divisions where class and gender ultimately ruled her fate. I found the ending particularly poignant, where an ethereal beauty could be found even in the darkest of circumstances.
Ockham’s Razor specialise with the use of original equipment, and this production was no different as the stage was littered with planks of wood and rope, soon to be utilised to create barns, journey through unsteady terrain, even used to symbolise the breaking down of relationships or the forming of friendships. We witnessed the performers build these structures onstage, which only increased our admiration at the creations as they were unveiled before us.
This production was full of enigmatic metaphors. There was often no requirement for graphic displays of conflict, which whilst it may have resulted in an easier watch, left audiences completing the puzzle, with the pieces often leaving an even heavier lasting weight. Ockham’s Razor have never been afraid of exploring unknown territory, which has led to a profound theatre piece that I have no doubt will inspire.
The production felt like the reclaiming of the life and story of Tess – with the change in perspective you couldn’t help but feel the empowering undertone and yearn for a change in societal expectations for women, a timeless ache that can still be felt. Grab tickets here to witness the triumphant staging of a beautifully tragic tale.
Tess is playing at York Theatre Royal until Saturday 11 May. Tickets start from £15.