{"id":342828,"date":"2025-08-14T03:25:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T03:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/342828\/"},"modified":"2025-08-14T03:25:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T03:25:13","slug":"gladiatrix-edinburgh-festival-fringe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/342828\/","title":{"rendered":"Gladiatrix \u2013 Edinburgh Festival Fringe"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Bukky Oronti and Stella Antonogiannaki in Gladiatrix at Venue 45 at theSpace. Picture: Cameron Avery<\/p>\n

Gladiatrix <\/strong>continues at Venue 45 at theSpace\u00a0<\/strong>until 23 August 2025.<\/p>\n

Star rating: four stars <\/strong>\u2605 \u2605 \u2605 \u2605 \u2729<\/p>\n

In 200AD, the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus decreed that women could no longer compete in Gladiator contests. From this single historical footnote comes Gladiatrix<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It essentially revolves around four of these fighters; Deireoe (Bukky Oronti), Felicitas (Olivia Blair), Mevia (Kirsten Longmuir) and Vita (Stella Antonogiannaki), all from different social backgrounds, all with different stories to tell, each with a different reason for fighting. For them, gladiatorial combat is their lifeline. What will they do when that is taken away?<\/p>\n

The opening number, \u2018Sex Sells\u2019, is stunning. A great musical score by Tony Gonzalez\u00a0and Sam Johnides, magnificent chorus work, all topped with nail-biting gladiatorial-combat choreography by Longmuir. Each of the nine set-pieces which comprise the bulk of the show are precisely and beautifully staged.<\/p>\n

However, after such a strong opening, the entrance of Marius (writer and lyricist Paul Bianchi) reading a source book, deflates that initial energy. Perhaps we need a breather after such a strong opening, but occasionally these interludes (only a fraction of the show) are dangerously close to turning this into a history lesson. Make no mistake, the spoken sections, replete with rhyming-couplets are clever, but they do take away from the momentum. Perhaps they should be underscored?<\/p>\n

That said, there\u2019s a lot of fun in it as well a drama. \u201cI don\u2019t carry a grudge,\u201d emperor Septimius Severus\u2019 theme tune (a wicked performance by Dashaun Vegas) is a delight. And Stephen Quinn as Cato delivers an empathetically everyman performance as Cato.<\/p>\n

The singing, choral and individual, is powerful. That said, perhaps the backing track could have been taken down a tad, or radio mics used (a couple of the company had quieter voices).<\/p>\n

This has the feeling of a show which has been trimmed for the Fringe. It could be longer (it\u2019s only 50 minutes) so that the characters are given more time to develop.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not quite there yet. It has the makings of a great show. But the songs, singing, choreography and staging are a great show. The audience all rose in a standing ovation.<\/p>\n

James Bryce<\/strong><\/p>\n

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