The Canterbury Tales review, Southwark Playhouse

Bawd's Taverners

The bawdy tales that make up Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales include that of the woman who presents her anus at a window for her troublesome suitor to kiss. This is an exquisitely piquant moment amongst a series of scatalogical interludes in Tacit Theatre's joyful high-energy production at Southwark Playhouse.

The stripped brick interior of the main space has been turned into the Tabard Tavern, at which the best teller of tales was promised a meal on their return from the pilgrimage to Canterbury 600 years ago. At the back is a bar dispensing mulled wine at £3 a tankard, though halfway through proceedings a large gentleman in red could be seen mouthing 'They've only got lager.' The whole feel is rustic, fun and inclusive with action happening on an upturned barrel in the centre. Those on the front benches are inside the action, but pay for it with backache. 

A musical cast of eight joyfully take on a number of earthy characters, drawing the audience into the action with singing and banter and the donning of tribal colours for The Knight's Tale. The first hour of this production is enormous fun. After that, though, the content gets a little bit wearing as the tales don't have classic structures and fizzle out. 

In conclusion: A mobile and musical cast are high-octane bawdy. Even Chanticleer the cock spends his time manfully mounting the farmyard chickens from behind in The Nun's Priest's Tale. It's certainly more compelling than reading the books.

References:
Southwark Playhouse, buy tickets.
Sarah Hemming review in the Financial Times