Medea Gosperia at The Cockpit Theatre

One of history’s great plays, Euripides’s Medea’s timeless charm continues to stun its audiences with its remorseless depiction of betrayal, revenge, and female suffering and empowerment. Medea Gosperia, presented by Thee Black Swan, reimagines the play as an opera in several musical styles set in the Caribbean. While the quality of the lyrics in this metamorphosis varies from scene to scene, the general experience is enjoyable with some memorable performances and, naturally, the inspiring and timeless plot.

Natasha Agarwal, as the titular character, exhibits a powerful soprano that steals the show whenever she is on stage. None of the other performances are quite like it, which reinforces Medea’s status as an outsider in this society, while also giving her ongoing lament a formidable tone. Sandeep Gurrapadi’s Jason, with his self–sufficient charm, pairs well with her, making him a charming villain. Musically, Amanda White’s portrayal of the nurse is a further highlight, dominating the stage with a commanding chest voice perfectly selected for the jazzier numbers she sings. A live band accompanies them under musical director Sam Bergliter; they create a beautiful soundscape throughout the 90-minute runtime.

The production by Joseph Charles is minimalist. There are no props apart from a couple of plants to evoke a Caribbean atmosphere; in terms of the costumes, most just seemed to wear random clothing, except for the odd Caribbean-inspired dress for Medea and the Nurse. The result makes the setting subtle, with the scene being set largely by the music; a decision that lets the action take precedence over the set and serves the overall performance succinctly.

The play transforms the chorus, often a challenging feature of Greek drama to modernise in contemporary adaptations, into a gospel choir. This offers some of the musical numbers interesting variety and is certainly a creative take on the chorus, although what they say often lacks some of the biting wit of the original.

Medea Gosperia is, as such, a reasonable success. With some neat singing and many creative takes to modernise the classic play, it’s surprising and a well-rounded approach that should leave most viewers satisfied.

Michael Higgs
Images: Ella Spencer

Medea Gosperia is at The Cockpit Theatre from 2^nd until 20^th July 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.