REVIEW: The Last Days of Judas Iscariot

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot asks the difficult questions on the meaning of life and, asks too, difficult questions of this young cast of trainee actors from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Set in purgatory and almost 3 hours in length the play, first performed off Broadway to great acclaim in 2005, is certainly a bold choice for a young cast such as this to tackle in their final year of training.

Characters include biblical personalities such as Mary Magdalene, Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate and, of course, Judas and Jesus themselves - alongside real-life characters from history like Mother Theresa and Sigmund Freud. All are called to testify in what feels like an American courtroom drama set on a fashion show runway.

Mirrored blocks and strips of mobile lighting make up a clever set and lighting design from Hugo Dodswerth, that serve to shine a light and hold up a mirror to those of us watching on. We, of course, are the jury who sit in judgement as the perspectives of good and evil in scriptures are played out in front of us.

There are two attorneys to represent each side. Evie Hargreaves as Fabiana for the defence, an actress who knows how to work a pencil, and Yusuf El-Fayoumu played by Alexander Uzoko, who couldn’t hold on to his pencil as he hilariously pours praise on those he calls to the stand. The two give assured and contrasting performances that keep this long production zipping along nicely.

If there are lulls in testimony and pace from some characters, the play truly comes alive each time Satan enters the arena. And what an outstanding interpretation this is from Alex Crook who smoulders with arrogance as he slithers around the stage. He nails every single line and draws the audience in beautifully with his razor-sharp comic timing and searing diction. I can’t wait to see this very talented performer’s career develop.

Ajani Cabey gives another very strong performance, playing Judas from excitable child to broken drunk and everything in-between. This is a quiet, intense performance from Cabey who makes a wonderful lead.

One of the joys of the evening is watching Evie Hargreaves cross examine Chiara Lari as Pontius Pilate. The two joust in an epic scene that dissects two perspectives on Judas’ betrayal with vivid, verbal pyrotechnics. It really is an explosive 10 minutes, brilliantly performed by the two actors and perfectly crafted by the directing team of Nik Partridge and his assistants Elli Jay Stevens and Tobias Millard.

A tale of biblical proportions superbly produced and performed by the staff and students at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.