THEATRE REVIEWS: Derevo

Derevo

Hackney Empire (0181-985 2424)

There are enough coups de theatre here to fill a dozen shows, ranging from a near-naked Cupid (pure Caravaggio) disconsolately retrieving misdirected arrows, to manic fire-eating and flag-waving. The fairy-tale narrative, involving a battle between a beak-nosed janitor and a suave tycoon-type for the heart of a beautiful waitress, rages across fantastical landscapes with the volatility of a dream. It's kitsch. It's clever. Go at least once.