A boy on a boat with a Bengal tiger makes for some roaring theatre!
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel is a story of survival and how being adaptive and having faith in yourself can help you overcome any obstacle.
And the stage show, adapted by playwright Lolita Chakrabarti, of this wonderful story is exotic and exciting and worth a watch. Currently at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal until Saturday 22nd June, the five time Olivier award winning West End phenomenon is fabulous.
From the cleverly designed set and costumes from Tim Hatley to the music by composer Andrew T Mackay, it’s a brilliantly directed show by Max Webster and Sheffield Theatres.
The story centres around Piscine Molitor Patel, named after a swimming pool in Paris and shortened to Pi. As narrator he tells the incredible tale of the boy and his family who own an idyllic zoo in India.
Their life turns upside down when the father decides to up sticks and take a cargo ship to Canada for a new adventure, taking their animals with them.
As the ship sinks, only Pi manages to escape and ends up stranded in the sea for 227 days with only a hyena, zebra, orangutan and Bengal tiger, named Richard Parker, for company.
Back on dry land and in hospital, Pi tells investigators how he survived his ordeal, but they don’t believe him, so he tells a second story and swops animals for humans.
Actor Divesh Subaskaran has made the role of Pi his own with the part his first professional gig since graduating from RADA.
Clearly revelling in the part, Subaskaran plays the role with confidence and ease and works well with fellow cast members Bhawna Bhawsar (Lulu Chen), Ralph Birtwell (father) Chand Martinez (Mamaji), Sonya Venugopal (Rani), Lilian Tsang (Mrs Okamoto) and Goldy Notay (Amma).
But it’s the puppets which are the most incredible. With convincing ease, the tiger made up of Sebastian Goffin, Akash Heer, Aizah Khan, Romina Hytten and Katie Kennedy-Rose, and prowls around the stage with real authenticity.
The Life of Pi ticks all the boxes for a great night out. For ticket availability for Glasgow, please visit www.atgtickets.com before the production moves to Edinburgh from 25th to 29th June and then onto the Lowry Theatre in Salford from 2nd to 6th July 2024.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family
Photographs courtesy of Sheffield Theatres
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