Le Navet Bete is back with another larger-than-life comedy, this time taking on the wildly dysfunctional world of Greek mythology.
When the stability of Olympus is threatened by the marriage of Zeus’ daughter Hebe to a mere mortal, the King of the gods hatches a plan to derail the wedding. The result is a fast-paced physical comedy in which three actors play 40 characters in a mythical farce through Ancient Greece, the Underworld and back.
Ahead of the show arriving at Lowry, Salford Quays Life chats to actor and Co-Artistic Director Nick Bunt talks to find out what it takes to bring Le Navet Bete’s unique style of controlled chaos to the stage.
We loved your version of King Arthur last time La Navet Bete toured to Lowry, Salford. What made now the right time to take on the Greek gods, and why did Greek mythology feel like the perfect playground for your unique brand of comedy?
Nick: “After ‘King Arthur’, we wanted to dive into another epic world that was universally known but with a completely fresh comedic angle. We really wanted to drop these legendary Greek gods into a surprisingly normal, relatable setting – which is actually how we came up with the idea of setting the whole thing at a hotel wedding between Zeus’ daughter and a mere mortal. The gods are larger than life, extremely petty and all awful people which makes them perfect for physical comedy and a riotously funny night out for our audiences. They’re one seriously dysfunctional family!”
The three of you play around 40 characters between you. How do you keep track of so many personalities, costumes and quick changes without descending into chaos?
Nick: “To be honest, it does descend into chaos – that’s half the fun of it! But it’s very tightly controlled chaos born from years of working together. Behind the scenes, it’s a military operation of split-second full costume changes. There’s almost more going on backstage than onstage at times! It certainly keeps us on our toes. The costumes for ‘Oh Zeus!’ are fantastically designed by the wonderful Fi Russell and really help us ‘become’ that person (or animal, at times!) and help drive the narrative along for the audience”.
Do you have a favourite character to play or a favourite scene that always gets the biggest audience reaction?
Nick: “For me, it’s got to be Nestor, Zeus’s servant – he’s a centaur, so the half-man, half-horse costume is just brilliant fun to wear. I also love playing Thanatos, the god of death, but he’s definitely not your typical Grim Reaper. He’s the irritating guy who just hangs around making awful jokes until you want to punch him in the face so I love pushing that as far as I can! Al and Matt have some absolute corkers too that audiences instantly fall in love with. Al’s uber-macho Zeus vs Matt’s Anna Wintour-esque Hera reminds me of a certain US President and First Lady behind closed doors. Juggling all those different personalities helps build the whole mad world and keeps the story flying, and there’s a couple of brilliantly chaotic scenes where everything collides that always get a massive roar from the crowd”.
Physical comedy has become a real trademark of Le Navet Bete. How much planning goes into making the slapstick look effortless, and how physically demanding is performing ‘Oh Zeus!’ night after night?
Nick: “It is immensely demanding. Essentially every show is like a marathon! Making slapstick look effortless takes an enormous amount of rigorous planning, precise choreography, and relentless rehearsal. Every fall, slip, and comedic beat has to be calculated down to the millisecond to ensure we stay safe while making it look completely spontaneous and chaotic. By the end of a run of shows, our bodies definitely know about it, but the sheer electricity of the audience laughing back at us completely fuels the stamina and adrenaline we need to push through”.
Your productions are known for being accessible to audiences who may not usually go to the theatre. How important is it for Le Navet Bete to create comedy that appeals to everyone, whether they’re theatre regulars or complete newcomers?
Nick: “It is the absolute beating heart of everything we do. We firmly believe that theatre shouldn’t feel exclusive or intimidating. Whether you’re a seasoned theatregoer or someone who hasn’t ever stepped foot in a venue, we want you to feel included from the very first minute. When an entire auditorium of different ages and backgrounds is howling at the same silly joke, it creates a wonderful, communal atmosphere that makes for an unforgettable night out”.
The show is recommended for ages 12+, but you’ve also introduced special ‘No Kids Allowed’ performances. What can audiences expect from those versions?
Nick: “The standard show is a riot in itself but the ‘No Kids Allowed’ performances are where we really take the safety off! These ones always sell-out first. While our main shows are brilliantly high-energy and cheeky enough (think Shrek humour) these specific adult versions let us lean a bit heavier into naughtier words and humour, spontaneous audience interaction and the use of a few extra props and costume that we might otherwise rein in. The gloves definitely come off and the audience can completely let their hair down and have a wild night out”.
The show arrives at Lowry as part of its UK tour. What are you most looking forward to about performing for Salford audiences, and how does touring keep each performance feeling fresh?
Nick: “We absolutely love it up here! I think this is our fifth or sixth time playing the Lowry (in every space). Salford and the Lowry have such a fantastic reputation for loving live comedy, and the audiences here always bring an electric, up-for-it energy. There is nothing quite like playing to a packed house in such an iconic venue and the Quays Theatre is the perfect size for our style of comedy and storytelling. Touring keeps us sharp because no two audiences are ever the same, making us play off the room, improvise, and keep the show alive. It means ‘Oh Zeus!’ is constantly evolving, making every single performance a unique live experience”.
If audiences leave the theatre talking about just one thing after seeing Oh Zeus!, what do you hope that will be?
Nick: “We hope they walk out into the foyer with aching cheeks from laughing so hard, turning to each other and saying, ‘I haven’t had a night out like that in ages.’ If they leave feeling thoroughly entertained, uplifted and buzzing from a brilliant, joyful communal experience (and maybe remembering a few of our ridiculous characters) then we’ll be happy knowing that we’ve done our job!”
Oh Zeus! is at Lowry, Salford from 28 July to 1 August 2026.