King Arthur – York Theatre Royal

Director: John Nicholson

Sometimes there is a touring company for which expectations are set very high, such is their reputation and the quality of their previous work. Le Navet Bete is one such company and they never disappoint. One of the UK’s leading touring physical comedy theatre companies, they are based in Exeter and have been running since 2008. Their mission is “To create and tour hilarious, physical and totally accessible comedy theatre using creative and engaging storytelling for absolutely everyone (ages 4 – 104!)”, and their latest production King Arthur demonstrates a multitude of reasons why they are 100% fulfilling this mission.

This is quick fire, clever physical comedy at its absolute best, featuring three drunkards, who, after a particularly heavy night of drinking realise that they promised their young King (King Arthur no less) that they would create a fabulous theatrical show for him, to make him look cooler and more experienced than he actually is.

Despite attempts to cancel the show, non-actors Dave the Rave and his buddies Edgar and Osbert find themselves having to gen up on theatrical devices to produce a play in a matter of days. Cue many quick costume changes and farcical elements along with mistaken identity and some really excellent quips. Le Navet Bete are at their best when the audience think they know what’s coming – much of the laughter comes from expectations being met and occasionally being surprised. The knowing looks out to the audience, each cast member’s delight when a particularly terrible joke lands well and the fact that the trio clearly find each other very funny indeed all add to a riotously comic couple of hours.

The second half of the show is concerned with the play itself, we see the three unfortunate actors attempt to present the legends and back stories of well-known characters; Lancelot, Guinevere, Morgan Le Fay, Gawain and others. This felt a little long, possibly because the audience were unsure of how many legends would be covered, it would have been helpful to have a visual that could be checked off as they blitzed each story, adding their own brand of comedy to each scenario.

The Lady of Shallot was no longer languishing in a tower weaving with a loom, instead she is cursed to sit in a bath of boiling baked beans for eternity. The meeting of Arthur and Guinevere is accompanied by an hilarious rendition of Careless Whisper on the recorder. Percival storms into battle on an Ostrich (and why not?) and the absolutely bonkers Merlin can be found living in a tiny cottage with Vivien, the Lady of the Lake, his equally mad wife who is able to go up stairs but not descend them. The wit and creativity within each scene is astonishing when looking at the show as a whole. Director John Nicholson should be commended for his ability to let the interplay between the self-described three outrageous idiots shine through.

There is no weak link in this show – Nick Bunt, Al Dunn and Matt Freeman are bundles of exuberant energy who tear through the two hours like a cross-dressing, all-singing, all-dancing whirlwind. They never let each other down and they consistently make each other laugh, which simply adds to the fun. What a privilege to be allowed inside their heads for the night.

Runs until 23rd March 2024