Review: The Golden Dragon @ Royal Exchange Theatre 04/10/2011

By Jessica Cree

Germans are well-known for many things; their wonderfully complicated language, their reliable cars and, of course, their ‘delicious’ food. But for their excellent theatre? It might not be the first thing that comes to mind. 

But The Golden Dragon is an example of one such play that seems to be creating a bit of a stir among British theatre-enthusiasts.

It was written by award-winning German playwright Roland Schimmelpfennig and has been dubbed Germany’s most successful new play.

It debuted in Vienna in 2009 and went on to win the Mülheim Dramatists’ Prize in 2010.

But how well do its humour and script translate for a British audience?

The whole thing can only be described as a bit odd but it strangely seemed to work.

This five-man play is based around a Thai / Chinese / Vietnamese takeaway and features seemingly unconnected soap opera-style story lines and characters, which all follow their own path and finally come together.

The scenery was basic, the lighting, unimposing. Costumes were added and taken away as necessary by the actors who were present at all times; there was no use of wings as the audience were sat around three edges of the performance area, all reminding me of a Théâtre Sans Frontières production.

The cast, from the Olivier Award-winning Actors Touring Company, were extremely well-rehearsed and tell this tragicomic tale of modern migration in a focused and intriguing way.

So, was it a case of lost in translation?

Probably not.  But, the strange and figurative characters and scenarios made for intense watching and question pondering.                

The play continues at The Studio in the Royal Exchange Theatre until 8 October.