Life of Pi staged production by Lolita Chakrabarti based on the 2001 novel by Yann Martel is currently touring the UK and until October 7th can be seen at New Victoria Theatre in Woking.

Making his first professional debut Divesh Subaskaran takes the lead role, of Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel, an Indian boy from Pondicherry, India. A young man growing up living and working at the family zoo. Learning how to understand and perfecting his zoo keeper skills.

His family leave the zoo and take the animals with them to start a new life in Canada. However, the crossing is marred with hostile crew, cruel seas and a life changing event.

Surviving 227 days seemingly alone after a shipwreck. Pi is in a hospital where two ladies come to question him about what took place on the boat and if he could shed light on how it sank.

We find Pi stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger or is he? The veil between reality and imagination merges and cleverly balances with Pi’s wonderful storytelling ability. Although whatever the reality is nobody will ever find out as Pi is the only survivor.

Finn Caldwell creates an incredible array of puppets for Life of Pi. The puppetry skills used by the team working with the animals throughout the performance are outstanding. From the Zebra and meerkats to the majestic and dominant Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker whom Pi battles with for dominance on the small boat.

From the noises and bustling from within the Zoo to the calmness of the night sky where Pi is alone at sea and the stars blanket the sky. Each scene is bold and thoughtfully detailed to bring this incredible story and journey to life by Set Designer Tim Hatley.

Life of Pi is uncomfortable to watch in a few places as survival of the fittest isn’t necessarily as straightforward as a trip to the supermarket. Good Theatre should always be challenging and moving.

For more information on this production and future shows at New Victoria Theatre please use the link below.

Four Stars.

https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre/

https://lifeofpionstage.com/