So, how to approach Shakespeare’s plays at time when his work is easily accessible, in written or recorded format, and when every word and nuance has been studied in depth? How to reproduce the spontaneity, the freshness of experiencing the play as if it were for the first time? The answer, according to Shake-Scene Shakespeare, is to use cue-based performance. Originally, rather than each actor having a copy of the entire play, they had only their own part and their cues, plus any direction of when to enter or leave. Reproducing this technique means actors and audience ‘discover’ the play at the same time. Does it work? Based on this production of Measure for Measure, yes. Absolutely.
Briefly, the Duke of Vienna (Eugenia Lowe) has allowed the city to become corrupt, so pretends to go on a journey, leaving the city in the hands of his deputy, Angelo (Ellie Zeegan), who he hopes will impose order by ensuring the laws are strictly kept. Unbeknownst to Angelo, the duke, disguised as a friar, is nearby keeping an eye on things. Angelo, known for his asceticism, acts first against lechery – ordering all the brothels to be torn down, and sentencing Claudio, a young nobleman, to die the next morning for getting his fiancée pregnant. Lucio (Dewi Hughes), Claudio’s friend, asks Isabella (Larissa Oates), Claudio’s sister, who is about to enter a convent, to intercede for him with Angelo. Her virtue and intelligence lead Angelo to desire her, and he offers to pardon Claudio providing Isabella will sleep with him. And thereby hangs a tail, with the Duke as puppet master pulling the strings and manipulating the action. Issues emerge surrounding virtue, corruption, hypocrisy, justice, power, and mercy – all as relevant today as then. When Isabella threatens to reveal Angelo’s corruption, he responds quite simply, ‘Who will believe thee, Isabel?’, which resonates with anyone familiar with #MeToo.
With simple costumes and minimum props, rather than impose their own interpretation on the play, the company allow the language, the characters, and the emotions to shine. Throughout, the storytelling comes to the fore. This is due not only to Lizzie Conrad’s superb editing – reducing the running time to 90 minutes through cutting the subplot while losing none of the subtleties and dilemmas of the main plot, plus retaining the humour that simultaneously relieves and highlights the tension – but also to the superb acting and verse speaking. The company trust Shakespeare to tell the story and trust the audience to follow it. It is, quite simply, a joy to behold. Whether you’re already familiar with Shakespeare or coming to the plays for the first time, I cannot recommend this highly enough.
Measure for Measure is repeated on Saturday 9th at 2pm with Julius Caesar on Fri 8th and Saturday 9th at 6:30pm. There is also a workshop on cue-based theatre on Saturday morning. Details on the website, https://shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk/
Reviewer: Johanna Roberts
Reviewed: 7th August 2025
North West End UK Rating: