Noble General Titus returns to Rome after conquering the Goths, but after the Queen of the Goths is married to the new Emperor, he finds himself and his family at the mercy of her bloody revenge. And bloody’s the operative word. Titus Andronicus is infamous as Shakespeare’s bloodiest play. This one has it all: murders, mutilations, adultery, rape, insanity and cannibalism, but the excesses can make it a problem for modern audiences, threatening to skew events into absurdity.
Action to the Word’s Titus is a defiantly sexy hit. Transposed to a kind of 80s London, this drips sex and lust amid the violence. Performers are dressed, and no-so-dressed, in dark suits, leathers and revealing corsets, supported by an excellent punky soundtrack. It makes sense in such a sensationalist play to use this appeal and ATTW strike a fine balance, using the modernity and sexualism to draw in the audience and support the drama without it becoming a farce.
The violence and gore is handled well, and the stage is fair sprayed with blood at points, notably in the excellent murders of Demetrius and Chiron which has them stripped and strapped to the butchering table, later reused with effect in the monstrous dinner scene.
Solid performances from all the leads, particularly Helen Duff’s memorable Tamora, show confidence in what is an imaginative and polished production.
Never less than spectacular, this is easily one of the best shows of this years Fringe.
5/5 
Scott McKellar
