The inner city Genesian Theatre Company took on the daunting task of putting on one of Shakespeare’s classic tragedies with ‘Antony and Cleopatra’.

The bravest spirits in the Company were director Joyce Birch and dramaturg Sandra Bass who cut the epic play to just 100 minutes Joyce Birch also came up with a minimalist but effective set for the tiny Genesian stage. I did have reservations about the use of the soothsayer being at the back middle of the stage for the whole performance. I have a dislike of seeing actors on stage spending a lot of time not having much to do!

The cast gave their all. Loretta Tolnai as Cleopatra, Matt Butcher as Mark Antony, John Bonaventura as Octavious and Naomi Englebrett as Octavia gave quality performances.

Michael Schell contributed a great score, with mixes of different classical music adding much needed atmosphere. Schell also contributed a striking lighting design with deep colours lighting the back of the stage.