Oh Zeus! – York Theatre Royal

Writers: John Nicholson and Le Navet Bete

Director: John Nicholson

Le Navet Bete, one of the UK’s leading touring physical comedy theatre companies, bring their trademark brand of hilarious, physical and totally chaotic comedy theatre to York Theatre Royal with Oh Zeus!, and the result is a joyous masterclass in clowning and ensemble performance. The company has built a reputation for inventive, family-friendly work that appeals to people of all ages across the UK and internationally. This latest production more than upholds that tradition.

The story of this piece is delightfully simple yet fertile ground for mayhem: plucky mortal Greg plans to marry Hebe, daughter of Zeus and Hera. Zeus, however, initially prefers that she marry Ares, god of war and Hebe’s brother – a nod to the less-than-conventional moral code of the Greek gods. When Greg is banished to the underworld, Zeus realises his mistake and descends into Hades’ realm to beg his brother for Greg’s return. This straightforward structure provides a clear spine, allowing audiences of all ages to follow the story amid the whirlwind of gags, visual set-pieces and slapstick chaos.

Le Navet Bete is an artist-led theatre company run by directors Al Dunn, Nick Bunt and Matt Freeman, who all met at the University of Plymouth in 2003 and discovered a shared passion for clowning and comedy. That passion – backed by years of hard work and the support of organisations such as Arts Council England, Exeter Northcott Theatre and Exeter Phoenix – has evolved into a company with a growing and loyal fan base. In Oh Zeus!, their experience and craft are unmistakable.

The three performers – Bunt, Dunn and Freeman – play an astonishing total of 19 characters between them, each one sharply and confidently distinguished from the others through precise physicality, vocal work and lightning-fast costume changes. It is no exaggeration to call this a masterclass in physical theatre and clowning. The pace rarely dips, yet the performances never feel rushed; instead, there is a sense of complete control beneath the apparent chaos, as the trio seamlessly juggle gods, mortals and various delightfully absurd creations.

Comedy fans are richly rewarded. Zeus’ repeated attempts to fake his own death become a running gag of escalating invention, each attempt more ludicrous than the last and each one foiled by the gloriously unhinged waiter Moussaka (or is it Tzatziki? Or Banana Split?). This playful running joke encapsulates Le Navet Bete’s approach: a willingness to push an idea to its extremes while never losing the audience’s goodwill or the internal logic of their comic universe.

Fi Russell’s set and costume design is arguably the production’s visual highlight. Working with what is essentially a single, flexible set piece, Russell conjures Olympus, the underworld and everything in between with wit and ingenuity. The design provides ample entry and exit points, fuelling the sense of hilarity and chaos as characters hurtle across the stage, reappear moments later in entirely new guises, and exploit every corner of the playing space. Costumes are bold, clear and instantly legible, supporting the rapid character transitions and enhancing the show’s broad appeal.

All that said, the piece does occasionally lose its pace. The opening feels rather clunky and somewhat extraneous to the rest of the storyline, as the Greek chorus conceit is employed to deliver a considerable amount of exposition. This device, while thematically appropriate, risks weighing down the early moments of the production and may leave some audience members impatient for the central action to begin. It does take a while for the piece to get going; however, once it finds its rhythm, audiences are in for a genuine theatrical treat. The energy, wit, and inventiveness that characterise Le Navet Bete’s work emerge strongly, rewarding the audience’s patience and ensuring that the slower start does not overshadow the overall enjoyment of the evening.

What makes Oh Zeus! particularly reassuring for the future of accessible theatre is how it is genuinely for “absolutely everyone”: children can delight in the slapstick, visual humour and larger-than-life characters, while adults enjoy the wry asides, mythological in-jokes and sheer craft of the storytelling. The company’s unique and chaotic style of physical comedy, honed through years of touring the UK and internationally, is on full display here, confirming yet again why they are regarded as one of the UK’s leading midscale theatre companies.

In Oh Zeus! at York Theatre Royal, Le Navet Bete offer not only a riotous evening of entertainment but also a comforting reminder that high-quality, inclusive, physical comedy is alive and thriving. For those seeking theatre that combines expert clowning, inventive design and a warm, generous spirit, this production is a very safe bet.

Runs until 20th June 2026