Cyrano de Bergerac: Edmond RostandSwan Theatre, RSC, Stratford Upon AvonRuns: 2h 45, one interval, till Saturday 15 November 2025, 4☆☆☆☆. Review: Roderick Dungate, AD Performance, 18 October 2025

Cyrano de Bergerac: Edmond Rostand

Swan Theatre, RSC, Stratford Upon Avon

Runs: 2h 45, one interval, till Saturday 15 November 2025

4☆☆☆☆. Review: Roderick Dungate, AD Performance, 18 October 2025

“An opportunity not to be missed.”

Simon Evans’ production of this quirky play is boisterous, committed, intelligent and , ultimately, moving. There are moments, however, when there is a distinct feeling that you can have too much of a good thing.

Rostand wrote the play in 1897, a reaction against the prevailing fin de atmosphere. But it’s not clear, from his play, what his own attitude to his creation was. Does the end of the play fit with the beginning, for instance?

Evans leaves some of the puzzles unanswered and goes for what is in front of him. It’s important to note that his translation-adaptation of the play (in co-operation with Debris Stevenson) is excellent; while being true to the original it’s sharp and witty. It shifts when it needs to and endeavours to preserve Rostand’s textual techniques.

At the heart of the play is the love triangle between Cyrano (a noble swordsman and poet), Christian (a naïve young man from the country) and the beautiful Roxann (married, widowed and available.) however, in exploring this theme, Evans also examines the power of language, the notion of performance (in the play and in our lives), the horrors of war. So the play is a mighty heady mix of challenging ideas; this is both its strength and its weakness. Like most good art we must do quite a lot of work to appreciate it.

This is a strong production. Evans has created a closely integrated team. The opening scene (in a theatre) is tricky to follow, and it might be clearer if the company relaxes with it; it feels pushed too hard. But as the narrative takes hold it all becomes much more satisfying.

Adrian Lester is a superb Cyrano. He weaves his way through the intricate text with ease and misses no comedic moment. Susannah Fielding’s Roxanne is marvellously down-to-earth. Their long duologue at the end is mesmerising, here we are totally drawn into the characters’ world.

Levi Brown as Christian, skilfully avoids artifice and, in his simplicity, never allows his character to dwindle into caricature.

One of the greatest threads in the play is the examination of the word ‘love’; but the forensic examination gives way to the emotion as the play moves towards its conclusion.

Opportunities to see this play don’t come up too often. This RSC production is an opportunity not to be missed.

Cast

Cyrano de Bergerac – Adrian Lester

Roxane – Susannah Fielding

Christian – Levi Brown

Comte de Guiche – Scott Handy

Le Bret – Philip Cumbus

Ragueneau – Christian Patterson

Monfleufy – Chris Nyak

Abigail – Greer Dale-Foulkes

Valvert – Matt Mordak

Jodolet – David Mildon

Madam Jodolet/Sister Claire – Sunny Chung

Small Boy – Quinn Anderson/Tyrae Lammy/Ellis Leonce

Reserves – David Mildon/Caolan McCarthy/Joseph Christian/Daniel Norford/Chris Nyak/Matt Mordak

Creatives

Director & Co-Adaptor – Simon Evans

Co-Adaptor – Debris Stevenson

Sets & Costumes – Grace Smart

Lighting – Joshie Harriette

Composer – Alex Baranowski

Audio Describers – Emily Magdij/Annette Stocken