As part of the Lambeth Fringe festival The Visions of the Lovers of Adonis had two nights at the Bread & Roses Theatre. This short play explores the timeless complexities of love, desire and power through the lens of Roman mythology. Drawing on Ovid’s Metamorphoses and the mythological world of gods and goddesses, the play brings together a cast of characters whose competing desires drive the narrative. “Venus is in love with Adonis, Diana has sworn off love, Mars seeks power, and Cupid longs to see his parents reunited”. Through these intertwining motivations, the play examines the contradictions of the heart and the often-conflicting nature of human desire.
The acting style is reminiscent of Shakespearean tragedy, with elements of soliloquy that heightens the performance. This approach gives the characters space to express their inner conflicts and lends the production a sense of classical drama. The mythological setting provides a rich foundation for these themes, allowing familiar archetypes to be explored through a theatrical lens.
While the setting and delivery of the play may appear simplistic, it ultimately achieves more than its surface suggests. The story mostly flows with an ease that speaks to both the writing and the performers’ ability to sustain the audience’s attention. The plot unfolds naturally, allowing the relationships between the characters and their individual ambitions to emerge without unnecessary complication. That said, the production could benefit from a deeper exploration of the tensions between the characters. Often mythological material can be lost and at times this was evident.
The staging is intimate and the music less subtle; the playing of horns and flutes gives a medieval feel to this story. The use of props supports the storyline as the actors re-enact scenes together. In between scenes it feels slow however it’s consistent in moving the story along.
There is an opportunity here, to push the performances further to create a powerful presence which could resonate more powerfully. The six actors, Joey James French – Adonis, Charlotte McKay-Fox – Diana, Abigail Dawn – Venus, Pepper Jensen – Mars, Hannah Hartwell – Cupid, and Zoe Cooper as the meddling Bacchus: Perform an enjoyable piece, demonstrating that simplicity need not mean a lack of substance. The play offers a reminder that even the gods, for all their power, remain vulnerable to the complications of the heart.
Written and Directed by Pepper Jensen
Assistant Director Rebecca Tozzoli-Clozza
Timings 7.30 -8.30pm 60 minutes no interval
Reviewer: Michelle Knight
Review Date 19th October 2026
North West End UK/Theatre Muse UK Rating: ****
