Gatiss's chilling transformation as dictator Arturo Ui

Mark Gatiss delivers a profoundly unsettling performance as Arturo Ui in Seán Linnen's circus-like production for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Initially presented as a tragicomic figure, Gatiss's portrayal evolves into something terrifying, embodying aspects of Hitler, Scrooge, and a ghoul. The play, translated by Stephen Sharkey, draws parallels between Ui's ascension in Chicago's cauliflower racket and the rise of the Third Reich.

Linnen's staging embraces carnivalesque elements, effectively capturing Brecht's critique of fascism's theatricality. This is amplified by Johnny Edwards's sound design and Jennifer Jackson's choreography, which work in tandem with Georgia Lowe's vibrant set and 1930s-inspired costumes. The score by Placebo adds a thumping rock'n'roll energy, unsettlingly heightening the gangster violence.

Mawaan Rizwan and Janie Dee offer standout performances, with the entire cast mastering a balance between cartoonishness and menace. While a brief nod to Donald Trump's rise elicits recognition, the production's strength lies in its potent, chilling portrayal of the transformation from rag-tag racketeers to organized fascists, leaving no room for humor by the end.