Oh Zeus! – Exeter Northcott Theatre

Writers: John Nicholson and Le Navet Bete

Director: John Nicholson

Since 2008, Nick Bunt, Al Dunn & Matt Freeman, collectively known as Le Navet Bete, have been creating high-energy physical theatre, expertly blending madcap antics and larger-than-life comedy characters They’ve sailed the seven seas as swashbuckling pirates in Treasure Island and now burst back onto the stage with Oh Zeus!, a new show that might just be their biggest adventure yet. Billed as a ‘mythical farce,’ the show centres around the impending wedding of hotel manager Gregg (Bunt) and Hebe (Freeman), who also happens to be the daughter of Greek God Zeus.

Zeus (Dunn) strongly opposes this match and is determined to go to extremes to derail Hebe’s wedding to a mere mortal. What follows is almost two hours of mythical mayhem, as Zeus hatches a plan, and Gregg – quite literally – goes through hell.

A strong script means Oh Zeus! delivers gag after gag. The cast of three moves seamlessly between playing 40 outlandish characters at a dizzying speed and with remarkable clarity and charisma.

Special mention must go to Freeman for his portrayal of Zeus’ long-suffering wife, Hera. Hera needs only to enter a scene to spark applause, with a presence – and a bob – that would make Anna Wintour green with envy. Encouraging audience interaction is undoubtedly one of the cast’s many talents, and a scene in the hotel’s bedroom between Hera and a particularly game member of the audience provides one of the show’s comedy highlights.

Fans of Fawlty Towers will also recognise more than a sprinkle of Spanish waiter Manuel in Freeman’s hilarious portrayal of Moussaka.

Kudos must also go to Nicholson’s strong direction, which no doubt helps the audience grasp the fast-moving plot and appreciate Lizi Bennett’s seemingly endless array of highly imaginative props, which add another layer of humour and surprise to the show.

Audiences unfamiliar with Le Navet Bete’s work may find some of the humour, mild language and innuendo in Oh Zeus! a little near the knuckle at times. However, the show is recommended for audiences aged 12 and above, and the jokes have both adults and children laughing consistently throughout.

Something about the pacing of the first half feels somewhat stronger than the second, and perhaps the wedding scenes could provide further opportunities for visual spectacle.

However, there is no doubt that Oh Zeus! is a real crowd-pleaser, with some in the audience showing their appreciation with a standing ovation. It is a strong and special show that showcases the immense imagination, skill, and breathtaking stamina of its cast and crew. Vive Le Navet Bete!

Runs until: 18 April 2026