ReMythed at the Bristol Tobacco Factory

“Let us tell you a story”

For as long as there have been stories, there have been retellings of said stories. Every time a story is told again, and again, and again, parts get twisted. Rewoven. Rewritten. Like a centuries-long game of Chinese whispers, or a loose thread or surprise sock you find in your laundry after a series of washes. These changes can be intentional or not, based on the flair of the narrator or the convictions of their culture. Even today, we see a lot of retellings of both old and new tales, a trend even the theatre world is not immune to. You’d think that Remythed wouldn’t stand out in such a landscape.

You’d be wrong.

*POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD*

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My Review:

Remythed is the first production of theatre company Bet’n Lev, and has already toured the UK to critical acclaim. After seeing the production at the Ustinov in Bath, where these 5 performers bravely battled through despite the illness of one of their own, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see this production in its full glory when it came to my hometown of Bristol. I was pleased to see that appropriate content warnings had been posted at both theatres, and the intimacy of both theatres allowed for both visual and auditory accessibility.

As for the production itself: Remythed takes the audience through 5 myths, opening - aptly - with Sheherazade, the famous storyteller. Here, the troupe wonderfully sets the scene for what’s to come, and the point they’re trying to make: stories get twisted over time. Was Sheherazade the king’s lover? Was she his only lover? Were she and the ing in a healthy, polyamorous relationship? Or was she just a woman with a wife of her own, hired to tell stories with no additional demands attached? Who’s to say, really. And therefore, who’s to say that Bet’n Lev’s interpretation is any more right or wrong than those that came before, or those that will come after?

From there, Sheherazade begins to take us through the next story, and the next. We’re shown the myth of Lilith, here reframed as ‘Lily’, who rejects the notions of gender and sex alike. They become someone all their own, content in their solitude after rejecting Adam. After Lily, we’re told about Silimbzuta, a royal who was gifted the ability to change their gender at will from the gods Ishtar and Innana. In this tale, the arrogant Silimbzuta is tasked to find their humility, journeying with their cousin to a commune where they find that and more. From this commune, we’re taken to the small English town of Coventry, framed as the kind of place where everyone knows everyone and everyone gossips. Here, the tale of Lady Godiva is retold as a queer love story. Rather than riding through the streets naked to appeal against high taxation imposed by her husband, she now rides as a declaration of devotion to her lover Tom, who has been turned from the eponymous ‘peeping Tom’ to a spinster who was Lady Godiva’s personal tailor and love interest. Finally, all stories converge in a bar run by Anansi, with all previous starring characters now depicted by animals as a young black gay man by the name of Danszo finds his ‘inner lion’ in a story about queer acceptance.

With this wide breadth of stories, the cast has a lot of multi-rolling to do, from titular characters to supporting cast to narrators. Transitions between scenes and worlds, and myths are cleverly done with a combination of lighting and sound design, and the cast works together like a well-oiled machine.

But where Remythed truly shines is in the heart put into this production. The myths and folktales told are all chosen from each performer’s personal background. And while the performer whose background the tale is taken from will always play the most prominent role, the story couldn’t exist without the contributions of the other cast members, highlighting that we’re all united as the queer community. In that, the members of Bet’n Lev strive to tell a story - or in fact, multiple stories - of queer love, joy, community, and acceptance. The cast gives it their all the whole show, and the piece ends with each performer declaring the importance these stories have to them, clearly with the hope that their audience will leave the auditorium with sentiments similar to theirs. And this Bristol audience absolutely did. Bet’n Lev had them in the palm of their hands from the beginning, and it made for a wonderful experience both during and after the show. Each story told spoke to someone, was deeply personal to someone, and the collective awe felt in that theatre after the cast had abandoned the stage gave you a feeling of calm and safety and community that I find difficult to put into words. While your individual experience will differ based on which story - or aspect of a story - speaks to you personally, Remythed also provides a collective queer experience via the bond it forges between themselves and the audience, and through that, the bond amongst the audience as a whole.

Remythed will not be everyone’s cup of tea. Aspects of the book can sound a bit clunky or on the nose, and some would say the production would undoubtedly benefit from a slightly higher budget. However, I would recommend this show to any of my queer friends in a heartbeat. If you’re someone who doesn’t feel seen or heard in modern media, if you’re someone who feels alienated from the world due to your background or identity, or if you’re someone who just wants to experience some queer joy for a change, Remythed is the show for you. Because in the presence of Bet’n Lev, you will feel seen, represented, and among your own kind for a solid hour, and that’s an experience that is far too rare in this world.

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Content Warnings:

The theatre has warnings on display, which are as follows:

• Swearing

• Reference to Homophobia and Racism

• Flashing Lights (Minimal)

I did not make note of any other moments that I felt should be mentioned.

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Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope this review has proved interesting and helpful for you :)

- AnxiousTheatregoer