Troilus & Cressida
07 October 2025
Globe Theatre
3.0 out of 5.0 stars
Troilus & Cressida, Shakespeare’s rarely staged satire, is running at the Globe until 26 October. The great heroes of Greece and Troy have grown weary of fighting, Cassandra’s warnings go unheeded, and even Helen of Troy’s golden sheen has worn off. Greece is a wasteland, its heroes weary and bored. Amidst the petty fighting, Trojan prince Troilus has fallen in love with Greek Cressida, but they are kept apart by the lingering drama.
There are a lot of characters in this comical romp, all with their own motivations and subplots, which is a lot to keep track of. Greek soldier Thersites roasts her fellow characters while narrating the chaos, helping a little in understanding who is doing what why and where. Still, it’s a busy satire with a bit of a muddled plot.
This production creates a gorgeous visual world utilising costume and stage design to set characters and factions apart, with bright gold and orange tones for Trojan characters, while the Greek ones are clad in torn and shredded grey hues. There is a good amount of audience interaction that engages and rouses, playing heavily on the humour and ridiculousness of the satirical play. It’s dynamic and loud, creating a fun and quirky atmosphere suiting the plot tremendously.
While it is apparent why this is one of the lesser staged plays, the Globe production has managed to make it appealing and captivating with an energetic edge that keeps the attention on the chaos unfolding on stage.
