Battlesong of Boudica

Director Chris Johnson gave a brief prologue to what we were about to see: Boudica was 90 minutes long, but it would feel like 30. This is the Hollywood Fringe. I’ve participated in 6 of them. When that is said by a director, you prep yourself for a show 120 minutes long. He was right. A relatively slow 6 minute introduction suddenly escalates, as the violent culture shock and disconnect exemplified by the performances of Christopher Neimann (Paulinus) and Jen Albert (Boudica). From that scene on, we are treated to a constant conflict of mask work, koken/puppetry, vast yet condensed realistic warfare, and ultimately a powerful conclusion. ... full review

School of Night’s most epic show yet! Get your asses in those seats and buckle up!!... full review

This is an excellent production with solid acting and writing. A well played and truly badass Boudica brings a feminist passion to the battlefield. The stage combat—and there is a lot of it—is the star of the show. It is particularly well staged in the small confines of a 99-seat theatre. ... full review

What an awesome production from a delightful and moving cast and writer/director! Impressive in multiple aspects: the writing, the production, the choreography, the acting…Boudicca shows off the talent and devotion of everyone involved. This play is a classical tragedy presented like an action movie.... full review

What a great production, the atmosphere, the cast, the music and everything within the play just worked so well together. ... full review

Easily the most elaborate and ambitious show I saw at Fringe, Battlesong of Boudica is an intense onstage spectacle that defies the limitations of Fringe theater. Hear more about the show contrasted against other Fringe productions on the "Stages of Our City" podcast: http://stageraw.com/2022/06/22/episode-18-part-1/.... full review

Battlesong of Boudica was a fantastic show! Everything from the acting to the stage combat was very well executed!... full review

I loved the live combat and sword fighting. In a world where we’ve become so used to digital special effects, it was refreshing to watch fight sequences and hand-to-hand combat up close and in person. Plus, the storyline was entertaining too.... full review

The show was amazing, raw & savage, I was legitimately entertained, strength of womankind on display, start to finish hanging on to every scene!... full review

The show feels like a vivid campfire story. It's an epic topic told in an intimate setting, and I was completely absorbed from the outset. The cast were all great, they managed to keep a fun, contemporary feeling to the story, while still conveying the horrors of war and occupation. Boudica and her two daughters keep the play grounded in genuine emotion, conveying believable family dynamics behind the mythology. They made a great use of props, including puppets ranging from the little sacrificial bunny to the huge goddess of war. There are beheadings and bloody sword fights. A lot of fun and surprisingly moving.... full review