UK Theatre Network

  
THE BIBLE: THE COMPLETE WORD OF GOD (ABRIDGED)

Performed by The Reduced Shakespeare Company at The Customs House, South Shields, Tyne & Wear

The Reduced Shakespeare Company brought their irreverent re-telling of ‘the good book’ to the Customs House last night and delivered a madcap, satirical and fast-paced show.

The cast of three, Simon Cole, John Keilty and William Meredith, portrayed a staggering array of biblical characters – of both genders - including Adam, Eve, Joseph, Mary, Jesus and Moses.

Almost every parable that I remember from my days at Sunday School was re-enacted, with a few unexpected twists, as the guys attempted to tackle many of the great theological conundrums. For instance, did Moses really look like Charlton Heston? Did Adam and Eve have navels? And is God a woman?

Along the way, some interesting little-known ‘facts’ were revealed: Did you know that there were computers in The Garden of Eden? Of course, there were – Eve had an Apple!

Written by Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, the script is clever and witty in a manner that is similar in style to Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Perhaps not to be recommended for devout Christians or the faint-hearted, taken at face value as a tongue-in-cheek prod at some of the more inexplicable Bible stories, it was an amusing and entertaining romp through the Old and New Testaments that had the audience belly-laughing throughout.

STEVE BURBRIDGE.