Born With Teeth review: Former Doctor Who and Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa has done it all over again, raves PATRICK MARMION

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Born With Teeth

Verdict: It bites 

It’s unlikely that we’ll witness two more outstanding performances this year like the ones given by Ncuti Gatwa as the rebellious playwright Christopher Marlowe and Edward Bluemel portraying a shy William Shakespeare in Liz Duffy Adams’ intriguing play Born With Teeth. To quote Winston Churchill, they’re sure to deliver ‘blood, sweat, tears… and plenty of laughter.’

Previously captivating audiences as Algernon Moncrieff in Oscar Wilde’s The Importance Of Being Earnest at the National Theatre last year, Ncuti Gatwa, once known for his roles in Doctor Who and Sex Education, has repeated his magic on stage.

In this portrayal, he embodies a confident, rock-and-roll persona for the character ‘Kit’ Marlowe, the infamous homosexual poet known for his prolific love affairs, heavy drinking, and frequent brawls. Tragically, he died at the young age of 29 in 1693.

Gatwa resembles a wildcat confined yet restless, striding across the stage draped in Elizabethan leathers, weaving around and on top of a wooden table and stools. The only thing tethering him to the stage is Bluemel’s initially anxious, celebrity-struck portrayal of ‘Will’, who serves as Marlowe’s literary, societal, and romantic objective.

In this setting, they’re collaborating in a writers’ studio, focusing on the adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Henry VI trilogy, a work that is increasingly recognized as a joint effort between the two authors.

During this tense political time, a careless phrase could potentially lead to brutal interrogations or even execution at the infamous Tower of London.

During a politically volatile era, one ill-chosen word could result in severe punishment or even death within the walls of the Tower of London.

Indeed, Adams tends to focus more on the competition, mutual respect, and underlying passion between the two individuals.

Marlowe anticipates that having sex with Kit might feel as dangerous as handling a leopard, yet this very prospect seems to make him more eager.

The performers’ energy is so palpable, with lights surrounding them from all directions, they appear to be genuinely drenched in perspiration.

In a way reminiscent of an old-style wet t-shirt contest, Bluemel’s blouse clings tightly to him. At one instance, Gatwa rips his shirt off entirely, showcasing a stunning physique that left everyone in awe – photography was strictly prohibited!

But even more impressive than his physique is Gatwa’s playfully feline disposition.

Yes, his character is prepared to betray friends and lovers to secure his fortune. 

However, behind his tough exterior, there’s a hidden playful, prankster personality and over time, a sensitive and ardent disposition emerges. This side of him is deeply touched and affected by the eloquence in Shakespeare’s writing.

Later on, Bluemel demonstrates that the Bard is resilient, as he has toughened up through this cat-and-mouse game.

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Bluemel proves that the Bard is tougher than expected, having been refined by this playful contest of cat and mouse.

Despite considering himself immune due to his court connections, Marlowe of Gatwa resides firmly within a realm that’s not only perilous but also filthy and heartless.

Which is why he winds up dead in a Deptford tavern.

Will, however, wants for nothing so sweet than to pass away peacefully, in his own bed.

This relationship was destined only for the stage, as it wouldn’t have thrived elsewhere. Yet, in Daniel Evans’ passionate staging, there’s a captivating spark of theatrical magic that permeates throughout.

Perhaps Joanna Scotcher’s set design, flanked by those three walls of floodlights, lacks intimacy.

But as Kit purrs: ‘History is written by the victors, and delegated to the poets.’

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I’d like to emphasize that history has a knack for resurfacing, and in this instance, it’s being brought back to life by these two extraordinary individuals – the ones adorned with teeth sharper than a vampire’s.

Born With Teeth is booking until November 1.

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2025-09-03 21:08