The stars of this hilarious show are sixth-formers from King Edward VI School in Stratford – otherwise known as Shakespeare’s School after its most famous alumnus. The performance, devised by the company, features a series of sketches reimagining Shakespeare’s characters in different situations.
Conceited Lady Macbeth (Ella McGovern) is a hot-shot influencer, flogging makeup on You Tube with the assistance of the hapless Macbeth (Eilis Biden). Ophelia (Elizabeth Muldoon) celebrates her one-week dead anniversary, while Hamlet (Cameron Spruce) treats us to a hilarious rendition of his most famous monologue, accompanied by a creepy doll he stole from Macbeth. Romeo (Jay Ballinger) and Juliet (Esme Cornish) take off their rose-tinted glasses and fight about coffee on live TV.
Mothello (Dev Prabakhar) is Othello, but also a Mothman, sporting a mask created by fellow sixth-former Jacob Eaves. Sometimes he gets a bit over excited, so Puck (George Melbourne) carries a lightbulb to calm him down. Meanwhile, Puck is frantically searching for the trophy that he is supposed to present to the Most Iconic Characters at the end of the show.
Live music adds another dimension to the performance, with Dylan Evans on saxophone, Zachary Hodges on drums, and Rohan Mistry on keyboard.
This is a riot of a show, full of laughs from start to finish. The cast all have an in-depth understanding of their characters, and of Shakespeare’s work. This would make an ideal introduction to Shakespeare’s work for a younger audience, and if the performers were in a position to tour schools with the show, they would do their peers a great service.
Reviewer: Wendy McEwan
Reviewed: 19th August 2024
North West End UK Rating: