b'T3 Journal - Student Writing in Drama, University of Exeter 2018-19Reviews into an ancient Greek prayer song after the death of Patroclus, and again at the culmination of the piece. The aesthetically interesting writhing and twisting movement in these moments, however, render a slight disconnect with the audience due to its drawn-out length and the emotional and guttural voice work fell short at the audiences lack of knowledge of Ancient Greek. Speaking to Downie after the show, he revealed that these songs were what Achilles inspired the piece, with the company Maketank, Exeter, Company ofworking experimentally to discover Wolves Theatre, 8th June 2019 the story of Achilles. Anna MiddlewickIt is perhaps this method of working Arriving at the new theatre venue inwhich fuelled the extent of Downies Exeter City Centre, Maketank, I waspassion and physical energy, meaning unsure what to expect from Companythat despite the few moments of of Wolves one man show, Achilles.disconnect mentioned, Achilles is an The venue, which used to be a seriesextremely forceful piece of new theatre.of shops, has been carved out and a makeshift auditorium set up withHamletan eclectic mix of chairs, sofas, beanThe Lemon Grove, 22nd May 2019bags and stools standing in the centre,Elizabeth Brownfacing the companys portable black stage floor.Arguably one of the most highly debated and popular plays ever Lit only by two harsh stage lights, andwritten, Exeter ShakeSocs perform-with echoes of the busy outside streetance of Shakespeares Hamlet did not drifting in, there was an atmospheredisappoint. Directed by Patrick Swain of hushed excitement; the feeling thatand Assistant Directed by Gemma we were watching something new andHumfress, the play was set in Exeter secretive.Universitys Lemon Grove, a slightly unusual space to stage one of the Ewan Downie did not disappoint,most famous plays in the history of with his unwavering, resolute andEnglish Literature, you might think. silent entrance demanding immediateHowever, the incredible stage team audience attention. Drawing heavilyresponsible for turning the nightclub on the storytelling culture ofinto a royal court in Denmark did an Homers Iliad, as well as from theadmirable job. text itself, Downie seamlessly shifts between the multiple charactersThe set was indeed well thought of Achilles, Patroclus, Hector andout, with sections of broken mirrors the Trojan soldiers, enacting theirattached to black flats to mimic the various feelings of grief and painwalls of the court. The mirrors also with uncomfortable force and goryhelped to encourage the audience to detail. This skilled art of storytellingpick up on the similarity between the is broken only for Downies launchstage set and the broken emotional 44'