Greg Doran Brings Venus & Adonis to Oxford Playhouse
Theatregoers in Oxford can experience a rare staging of William Shakespeare's narrative poem Venus & Adonis as former Royal Shakespeare Company Artistic Director Greg Doran returns to the city. Following a successful opening run in Cambridge, the production arrives at the Oxford Playhouse featuring live narration by award-winning stage actor Simon Russell Beale alongside intricate puppetry.
Ahead of the opening, Oxford Playhouse Artistic Director Mike Tweddle sat down with Doran to discuss the creative evolution of the project, its distinct theatrical form, and the director's connection to the local stage.
Exploring Shakespeare Through Puppetry and Performance
Staging Venus & Adonis presents unique artistic choices, particularly in translating a classical poem into a dynamic stage experience. Doran noted that the production re-examines the sexual politics of the original text—highlighting the contrast between Ovid's original version and Shakespeare's adaptation, where Adonis shows no interest in romance and focuses entirely on the hunt.
To bring this narrative to life without traditional dialogue-heavy formatting, the production incorporates multiple forms of puppetry inspired by Japanese Bunraku theatre and Jacobean Court Masques. Tabletop puppets, shadow play, and larger-scale creations managed by professional puppeteers allow the performance to shift dynamically between comedy and tragedy over the course of an hour.
Simon Russell Beale joins the touring cast as the live narrator, bringing a rigorous approach to speaking classical verse to a piece of work he had not previously explored.
Continuing a Creative Relationship in Oxford
Doran’s return follows his acclaimed staging of The Two Gentlemen of Verona at the theatre two years prior. Reflecting on that previous tenure—which coincided with a deeply personal period following the loss of his husband, Tony Sher—Doran shared how meaningful it was to engage with students and local audiences, finding a sense of renewal and shared artistic practice in the city.
For visitors looking to explore more theatrical productions and local cultural highlights, platforms like Musemap (musemap.art) offer curated guides to help you discover upcoming shows, browse local museums, or check the interactive city map.
