The air crackles with danger, ambition, and poetic genius at Wyndham's Theatre, where Ncuti Gatwa and Edward Bluemel are delivering a masterclass in theatrical tension. Liz Duffy Adams's Born With Teeth is a thrilling imagining of a potentially deadly collaboration between two of history's greatest playwrights: the established rock star, Christopher Marlowe, and the ambitious newcomer, William Shakespeare.
Gatwa, fresh from his era-defining role in Doctor Who, is simply magnetic as Kit Marlowe. He embodies the celebrated writer with a potent mix of seductive charm, reckless swagger, and profound vulnerability. This is a Marlowe who lives life at a breakneck pace, acutely aware of the treacherous political landscape of Elizabethan England and the ever-present threat of the tower.
Opposite him, Edward Bluemel's Will Shakespeare is a perfect foil. Bluemel masterfully portrays the younger Bard not as a fawning acolyte but as a cunning, observant strategist, quietly absorbing Marlowe's flair while meticulously plotting his own path to immortality. Their scenes together are a complex dance of mentorship, rivalry, and raw, sexual chemistry.
The true brilliance of the production lies in its modern sensibility. Under the sharp direction of Sarah Tipple, the play crackles with contemporary resonance. The witty, rapid-fire dialogue, filled with clever meta-theatrical jokes about the nature of playwriting itself, feels entirely fresh. It seamlessly transforms a historical premise into a urgent and relatable story about art, power, and survival.
This is not a staid period piece but a visceral, politically charged thriller. The sparse, effective set design focuses all attention on the two powerhouse performances at its core. The audience is thrust into the cramped confines of the tavern, becoming silent witnesses to a relationship that could forge masterpieces or end in betrayal and bloodshed.
Born With Teeth is more than just a history lesson; it is a electrifying examination of the cost of art and the dangerous allure of fame. It is a triumphant showcase for its two incredible stars and a dazzling, must-see production that confirms London's West End as the world's premier stage for bold, innovative theatre.
