A Midsummer Night’s Dream (WUDS) @ Warwick Arts Centre Studio
June 5, 2009
Writing about web page http://www.wuds.co.uk/ June has only just begun, and already I’ve seen my second Dream of the year. I admit, I’m always a little bit sceptic when entering an auditorium for another production of this play; it’s so over-familiar and over-produced, matched probably only by Romeo for the amount of workaday productions trotted …
As You Like It (RSC) @ The Courtyard Theatre
May 29, 2009
Writing about web page http://www.rsc.org.uk/whatson/7293.aspx Long time readers will know that As You Like It is one of my least favourite Shakespeare plays. In fact, as much as this goes against the grain of my general Shakesepearean outlook, it’s one that I personally find works better on the page than the stage. Once in the Forest …
Romeo and Juliet @ Shakespeare’s Globe
May 14, 2009
Writing about web page http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/theatre/annualtheatreseason/romeojuliet/ The desire to cast Romeo and Juliet as young as possible is deep-ingrained in theatre directors. In Dominic Dromgoole’s new production for Shakespeare’s Globe, for example, the actors playing Juliet, Benvolio and Tybalt all make their professional stage debut. It’s an ongoing risk: the potential gains in youth and energy …
The Winter’s Tale (RSC) @ The Courtyard Theatre
May 4, 2009
Writing about web page http://www.rsc.org.uk/whatson/7291.aspx The new RSC ensemble is now officially up and running in Stratford, with The Winter’s Tale and As You Like It both playing in rep at the Courtyard. At the moment I’m curious to see whether the new ensemble format will prove as rich as the old; where the Histories …
The Tempest in Adaptation @ The CAPITAL Centre Studio
May 1, 2009
Writing about web page http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/pagestage/ Shakespeare Page-to-Stage-to-Page is a specialist module for English undergraduate finalists, concerned with Shakespearean performance and with a particular concern for adaptation and reviewing. As part of the class, the students work on a practical project, highlights of which opened the CAPITAL Centre’s New Work Festival today. The small audience were …
The Lost Interpretations of Hamlet @ The CAPITAL Centre
April 22, 2009
Writing about web page go.warwick.ac.uk/capital/teaching_and_learning/projects/thehamletproject It’s a shame that my PhD doesn’t (at the moment, anyway) include any performative elements; I can imagine it being uniquely exciting to have your thesis shaped by theatrical experimentation and events. Last night saw PhD researcher and CAPITAL artist-in-residence Tom Cornford’s first public presentation of the Hamlet Project’s rehearsal …
Othello (Northern Broadsides) @ The Belgrade Theatre
April 8, 2009
Writing about web page http://www.northern-broadsides.co.uk/PAGES/currentproduction.htm Othello publicity art The new Northern Broadsides production of Othello has caused something of a stir this year, with countless articles and interviews devoted to the novelty of one of Britain’s most beloved comedians, Lenny Henry CBE, jumping in at the deep end with his first theatrical Shakespearean role. Broadsides …
Antony & Cleopatra (SATTF) @ The Tobacco Factory
April 2, 2009
Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory have followed a similar format for most of their ten seasons to date, putting on two classic plays a year, one after the other. This tenth anniversary season, though, marks the first time that they have tried to link their two productions into a cohesive whole, with the same ensemble …
Macbeth @ The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
March 12, 2009
Matthew Dunster’s new production of Macbeth for the Royal Exchange fits neatly into recent fashions regarding the staging of this play. It emphasises the Weird Sisters, bringing them onstage throughout the action, contemporises events and has a particular concern with children, some or all of which were exemplified by the most recent RSC and Chichester …
As You Like It (Leicester Theatre Trust/Dash Arts) @ Curve, Leicester
March 5, 2009
Writing about web page http://www.curveonline.co.uk/curve.php?pgid=25 Curve, located in the centre of Leicester, is an enormous and hugely expensive new theatre venue that opened late last year. Already it’s been doing some exciting work, not least a revival of The Pillowman, and it’s landed a coup as the producing house for Tim Supple’s new production of As You Like It, …
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