The Yeomen Of The Guard
★★★☆☆ Assured
Paradise in Augustines (Venue 142): Mon 18 – Sun 24 Aug 2025
Review by Salvador Kent
Cat-Like Tread return to Paradise in Augustines with an assured and beautifully directed production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Yeomen of the Guard for the final week of the fringe.
Sullivan’s score for this late Savoy Opera is one of his most lauded, while Gilbert’s libretto swaps his usual hilarity and comic tropes for a darker setting, where the threat of beheading looms heavy in a closed off community around the Tower of London.
A scene from Cat-Like Tread’s The Yeoman of the Guard. Pic: Roland Smyth.
Just five musicians bring Sullivan’s score faithfully to life, including Catherine Hughes and Kate Whitlock. They are led with great grace by Jaime Turnbull on the keyboard. Patsy Craig has some beautiful solos on the Cello and Lindsey Cotter on woodwind is also a standout.,
Opening with Phoebe Meryll’s lament, When maiden loves, to which Emma Lawson as Phoebe brings a strong resonance. Co-directors Rae Lamond and Sarah Whitty immediately set a darker tone to what is ultimately a tasteful production with the first tableaux which culminates in the depiction of an execution
This is done with grace and inventiveness, and also establishes the directorial style of the work – focused on big, detailed stage images with a large cast filling the playing area. A big part of what makes these large tableaus so compelling are the wonderful, opulent costumes by Rachel Allan. Also helpful is the work of Steven Robson, who lights the stage tastefully.
tennis match
Moments where the stellar chorus are utilised particularly well include a number where they take centre stage, heads jolting from one side to the other like they are watching a tennis match. Their frequent harmonies are pleasing and well co-ordinated by musical director Lindsey Cotter.
A scene from Cat-Like Tread’s The Yeoman of the Guard. Pic: Roland Smyth.
Matt Sielewicz-Stanhope plays the hopelessly romantic head jailer, Wilfred Shadbolt with delicious awkwardness, and has a dynamic that garners a great laugh with Lawson’s Phoebe.
The scene when the two strolling players, Keith Starsmeare as jester Jack Point, and Caroline Hood as singer Elsie Maynard arrive in town is a particular standout.
Starsmeare plays Point with a delightfully anarchic spirit reminiscent of clowning. Caroline Hood’s singing voice is wonderful, and provides some particularly memorable numbers. Lamond and Whitty make the choice to have these fools present puppets to the townspeople, which is delightful, immersive, and causes a tragic refrain and perhaps the most poignant moment at the end of the play.
Neil Lawson sings the prisoner Colonel Fairfax well, and develops a nice dynamic with Hood’s Elsie. Their eventual relationship garners sympathy, and provides a sweetness to the play’s bittersweet final image.
Paced well, and without an interval, this still demands a significant investment of time at the busiest slot of the Fringe day. But, if you are looking for an assured slice of a lesser performed Gilbert and Sullivan, with some lovely singing and compelling tableaus, then this one arrives with the necessary cat-like tread.
Running time: One hour and 50 minutes (no interval).
Paradise in Augustines (Sanctuary), 41 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EL. Venue 152.
Monday 18 -Sunday 24 August 2025
Evenings: 7.45pm.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Book here on EdFest.com.*
Cat Like Tread website: https://www.catliketread.com
Facebook: @CatLikeTread
Instagram: @catliketread
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A scene from Cat-Like Tread’s The Yeoman of the Guard. Pic: Roland Smyth.
ENDS
