METAMORPHOSIS Royal Opera House 2

Gregor Samsa awakes one morning to find himself transformed into a gigantic insect. Franz Kafka’s novella has had many interpretations. The latest is a dance theatre piece by choreographer /director Arthur Pita to live music and a pre-recorded soundscape by Frank Moon. Royal Ballet Principal Edward Watson, who won the 2012 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance for his performance as Gregor, has an astonishingly malleable physique and he gets his body into the most extraordinary knotted insect-like positions. Legs and arms are interchangeable, fingers and toes are splayed. He rocks helplessly on his back. The most revolting scene comes when his bedroom is invaded by oozy-black dung-beetles who cover him with their thick black slime. The 80-minute piece could do with some editing. Pita seems to run out of ideas and introduces an over-extended intrusion by three bearded and bespectacled Jewish lodgers in long coats who would almost certainly get a better deal in Fiddler on the Roof.