Belvoir St Theatre has always been a champion of more experimental works and revitalising classics and their production of Orlando, which is the latest in the 2025 season is no exception. On a pouring Sydney night with the rain pounding down on the roof, the audience strapped in for a 100-minute retelling of Virginia Woolf’s classic novel. 

The start of the production is largely faithful to the novel with Shannen Alyce Quan playing the titular character as they interact with a larger-than-life Queen Elizabeth and fall in love for the first time. Orlando then transitions into a female character played by Janet Anderson before Zarif takes over the role in the Victorian age. Nic Prior closes out the production with a panoramic view of London and modern-day society. 

For those without innate familiarity with the book, the condensed nature of the production means that it is quite difficult to follow, with a lot of the action, especially in the first half of the production being rushed through without a lot of context. With that said, the performers are fantastic, with Quan and Anderson in particular showing off their acting chops with sensitive and brash performances respectively that the roles demand, providing a lovely contrast. The production also begins with the performers on ice skates which is a wonderful and unique touch. 

David Fleischer’s sets are also stunning, providing a true visual spectacle for the audience. For those who delight in the craft of theatre, both in terms of performing and design, this is definitely a production that shows off the incredible skills of those on the stage and behind it. 

The problem largely lies in the adaptation of the work, which, in addition to being hard to follow, seems to focus on the wrong things at times. The final scene that charts the passers-by through a London tube station is far too long and repetitive, which in a production that is condensing so much already, feels like a real missed opportunity. The somewhat didactic presentation of end of the production also undermines some of the messaging in the play as it is used as a device to smooth things over and wrap up loose ends, which is not really in keeping with the rest of the play. 

Overall, this is an interesting production, which shows off an incredible array of talented performers and some gorgeous sets. The story is slightly confusing in some parts and heavily repetitive in others which means that some of the essence of Woolf’s work is lost but the quality of the acting and design mean that this is still an enjoyable watch, especially for lovers of the craft. 

Rating: ★★★

Orlando plays at the Belvoir St Theatre until 28^th September 2025. For more information, click here. 

Photo credit: Brett Boardman