Blue and red light bathe the stage – no, the wrestling ring – as Ed Gamester, playing the knavish Norse God Loki, delivers a soliloquy on the creation of Midgard, where fire and ice meet. This forms the basis of the plotline of the show, based on old Norse myths; Odin and Loki band together to create a new world in Midgard, while fighting off other Gods for control and grappling with treachery and betrayal.
The show, written by a cast of professional wrestlers, is well-paced and feels almost like a competitive wrestling show in its episodic structure. Characters come and go, and feuds return more than once to push the show forward, encouraging the audience to side with and bellow in support of their favourite God. This in part is what makes the show so thrilling – the atmosphere is constantly brimming with energy from fans.
You also do not have to be familiar with wrestling to participate. I found myself cheering along with the crowd, despite never having been to a wrestling show, and there was plenty more to enjoy otherwise. The engrossing plotline, drawn from the original Nordic myths, the amazing costumes and set, with circling runes on the floor, the grand, primal Nordic rock that accompanied dramatic wrestling entrances. This was all elevated by the surprisingly talented, albeit theatrical, acting of the cast, who were fantastic in ramping up anticipation for fights, and portrayed the larger-than-life characters incredibly through their imposing, towering builds.
The jaw-dropping fights were the highlight of the show; with flips and turns and somersaults and (insert another wrestling-related term here) that got characters crashing to the ground with ear-splitting cracks that made the audience grimace in pain. There was even a sword duel, where actors moved with a beautiful fluidity, and group fights, where four or more characters commanded the stage space with synchronised brilliance. To top it all off, as cast member Louise Young confirmed, all this was choreographed purely by the cast; a testament to how authentic and dedicated they are to their craft.
Mythos: Ragnarök combines all the awe-inspiring grandness of Norse mythology with the theatrics of professional wrestling. The result is a show that is at once riotous and gripping, provoking audiences to tremble at the edge of their seat and roar as Gods fight one another for power, family, and justice.
Mythos: Ragnarök is running until 29 August at Music Hall at Assembly Rooms. Buy tickets here.
Image by Heidi Katrina, provided for press use.
