The Odyssey – Unicorn Theatre

Shaka Kalokoh and Cash Holland in The Odyssey at the Unicorn Theatre, London. Picture: Manuel Harlan

The Odyssey continues at the Unicorn Theatre, London until 21 April 2024.

Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩

Effectively a retro pop opera for young audiences, this show is both lively and energetic.

It looks good too. Designer Rosie Elnile has done simple but effective shiny things with tin foil, one versatile moveable house open at one end and some memorable costumes – especially the furry cover-ups for Circe’s “beasts” and the silky colourful creation for Calypso.

This episodic story, adapted by Nina Segal, is about Telemachus’ quest to find his long-absent father Odysseus. And, of course, searching for a missing father is something many modern children and young people will identify with.

Telemachus (Shaka Kalokoh) goes to Troy from Ithaca and returns via the islands of Cyclops, Calypso and Circe, sirens, the Underworld and an encounter with a sea monster. Kalokoh finds all the bewilderment and vulnerability of a troubled adolescent on a “really really really long journey” to adulthood.

Cash Holland is outstanding as Penelope and lots of other roles. As Telemachus’ mother, she has dignity and wisdom along with very natural fears for her son’s safety. Her Calypso trips gaily about peddling fruit drinks with amnesiac properties, her Cyclops is gloriously blokeish and her Circe charismatic. She’s hilarious as the elderly Tiresias who isn’t quite dead too. Holland can sing, it seems, anything from full belt to the lightest of lyrical melodies (music and arrangements by Naomi Hammerton).

Full marks too to Cerys Marie Burton and Kimmy Edwards, billed as “muses” but actually a sort of chorus which accompanies Telemachus and plays every other part: ranging from Circe’s alarmingly aggressive beasts to a pair of wonderfully daft sheep and an all-singing, all-dancing backing group in 1960s-type glitzy dresses.

Directed by Jennifer Tang, it’s an enjoyable take for a modern young audience on a timeless old story. Of course, in 2024 it would be doctored smoothies that Calypso is offering. Naturally, Telemachus would be embarrassed by his mother’s dancing and yes, Circe might bring him doughnuts for breakfast. It’s good strong fun whether or not you’re familiar with Homer.

A stage crew of four work hard and appear a lot in this show so it’s good to see them brought on and acknowledged at curtain call.

Susan Elkin