Review: Measure for Measure, Donmar Warehouse

While others strive for power, one Duke appears to be giving it away. Relinquishing his judicial power and assigning it to his deputy, he dons a monk's habit and steps back, to see what will unfold in his absence...

What does unfold is a staging of Measure for Measure quite unlike any that has been envisaged before. Though it is performed far less frequently than some of Shakespeare's other plays, Measure showcases an array of human vices which have become ever more important to address. Abuse of power, blackmail and hypocrisy, gender inequality and sexual violation - one instance of many in which a 16th century playwright appears to be speaking directly to us in the 21st century.

Review: The Merry Wives of Windsor, RSC

There's a knock at the door. A letter has arrived for a certain 'Mr Shakespeare', and it's from the Queen of England...

It feels like a long time since the Royal Shakespeare Company have performed a Shakespearean comedy, and so the current production of The Merry Wives of Windsor was a much needed breather from the darkness of Scottish moors and the tombs of ill-fated lovers. As with their recent productions of Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet, the play, its set and costumes, were modernised to add a 21st century relevance, but here, the worlds of Elizabethan bawdiness and Essex gaudiness came together in a fantastically farcical blend. Here's my thoughts. 

Shakespeare Sunday: The Merchant of Venice

Welcome to 'Shakespeare Sunday', where I take an extract from one of the plays and write my thoughts.

'All that glitters is not gold' - The Merchant of Venice, Act 2 Scene 7
External versus Internal: Tolkien & Shakespeare

Review: RSC, Romeo and Juliet

A chorus of voices clamour to be heard, their cries becoming 140-character-length statements, loaded with meaning but exclaimed nevertheless...

There was much anticipation for the RSC's 2018 production of Romeo and Juliet, which promised a fresh, modern retelling by a youthful cast. Yet with the Globe's abstract 2017 production still fresh in people's minds, and with the RSC's recent Macbeth pushing modernisation to inaccessible levels, audiences could have been apprehensive about how the production would be handled. But under Erica Whyman's experienced direction and Tom Piper's acclaimed design, the production excelled. Here's my thoughts. 

Shakespeare Sunday: As You Like It & Richard II

Welcome to 'Shakespeare Sunday', where I take an extract from the plays and write my thoughts.

'This our life' As You Like It, Act 2 Scene 1
Deposition: Gift or Curse?

Comment: The Stage, Protecting Shakespeare

The first in a new (non-regular) feature! This was spurred by an article in The Stage by associate editor Lyn Gardner, which I found tremendously valuable and would like to share. My thoughts below.

Lyn Gardner: Chekhov and Shakespeare do not need ‘protecting’

Review: National Theatre, Macbeth

In a bleak, post-apocalyptic landscape, the king's militia brutally decapitate an enemy fighter, hanging his head in a plastic bag upon a pylon... 

As with the RSC's recent production of Macbeth, the reviews for the National Theatre's rendition of the Scottish Play were less than praising. Criticised for misjudging the play's themes and glorifying its violence in a 'Mad Max'-style setting, the production has been cited as one in a long line of flops from the National Theatre under artistic director Rufus Norris. Yet, as with the RSC production, I sat down for the live screening with an open mind - and was pleasantly surprised. Here's my thoughts.

Shakespeare Sunday: Twelfth Night & King Lear

Welcome to 'Shakespeare Sunday', where I take an extract from one of the plays and write my thoughts.

'Hey, ho, the wind and the rain' Twelfth Night Act 5, Scene 1, and King Lear Act 3, Scene 2

Shakespeare's Songs: Fools and Fortune 

Review: RSC, Macbeth

The old king sleeps. At the foot of his bed, three childish spectres keep their watch...

I was apprehensive to see the RSC's 2018 production of Shakespeare's Macbeth. The reviews were rather poor, with comments circulating that the production was unclear, disjointed, and inaccessible. However, being a strong supporter of the RSC and an open-minded theatre-goer, I entered the auditorium with the same level of interest and excitement as for any other production. Here's my thoughts.

Review: Bridge Theatre, Julius Caesar

In the streets of Rome, a mob gathers: drinking beer, waving flags, and jumping to the beat of 'Eye of the Tiger'...

The newly-opened Bridge Theatre has done it again - with its versatile auditorium and vibrant, trendy style, the theatre's second ever production met with fantastic reviews. Willing to take bold new risks, its production of Julius Caesar transformed this sometimes-tedious historical narrative into a wild, howling thing, brimming with restlessness, anxiety and pain. Here's my thoughts.