Shakespeare’s Globe Archives

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Shakespeare’s Globe

30Nov

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Shakespeare’s Globe

You don’t necessarily expect a take on a A Midsummer Night’s Dream to have Pete Quince’s troupe cutting cocaine with credit cards but that’s far from the biggest change to this adaptation. Playing here now as more tragedy than comedy, Headlong adapted A Midsummer Night's Dream for its debut in the candlelight Wanamaker. Billed as a darker, more tragic version, there are still some laughs kept, perhaps some of them now more nervous laughs. There’s an undercurrent of sex and violence running throughout, sometimes uncomfortably combined. The lovers’ fallings-out in the woods, even when driven by Puck’s interference, move far away from the chaotic mischief and towards barely disguised emotional and physical abuse, playing with a hard edge to them. Sergo Vares’ Puck carries an air of male...

Twelfth Night or What You Will – Shakespeare’s Globe

26Aug

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

Twelfth Night or What You Will – Shakespeare’s Globe

In the fictional Illyria, most of the inhabitants are enjoying a crazy summer festival, getting drunk, dancing and singing while adored in masks and oversized head-dresses. But not all the Illyrians are so joyful. Olivia, in mourning after the death of her brother; Duke Orsino, desperately in love with Olivia; and the steward Malvolio, who is also in love with Olivia, are too melancholy to take part in the revelries. Into this mix comes shipwrecked Viola, thrown into a world she must quickly come to understand, while still grief-stricken over the loss of her twin brother, Sebastian, who she believes has perished at sea. She disguises herself as Cesario and becomes steward to Duke Orsino only to then fall head over heels in love with the duke. When Orsino sends Cesario to woo Olivia o...

The Merry Wives of Windsor – Shakespeare’s Globe

10Jul

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

The Merry Wives of Windsor – Shakespeare’s Globe

Published in 1602 and traditionally believed to have been written at the specific request of Elizabeth I, The Merry Wives of Windsor is one of Shakespeare's less frequently produced and not so well-regarded plays. It's a great romp though, and the perfect choice for a summer evening at the iconic "Wooden O" on London's South Bank. Sir John Falstaff, the large, impoverished and corpulent knight from Shakespeare's Henry series, secretly propositions the wives of Ford and Page, with the intention of relieving them of their husbands' money. He sends both women identical letters hoping to woo them. The women discover that Falstaff is communicating with both of them and decide to lead him on, to mock and shame him and teach him a lesson. Through the meddling of the servant, Mistre...

5May

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Romeo & Juliet – Shakespeare’s Globe

The Shakespeare Globe presents as part of the summer season. A new lively production of Romeo and Juliet, a play of young love and tragedy. This is one of Shakespeare’s controversial plays “which the age of a character is overtly stated, Juliet is just thirteen”. Romeo’s age is never mentioned but the sense is he is not much older than his Juliet played by Lola Shalam. It offers Shakespeare style, set within the wild west times of the 19th Century, yes cowboys. Don’t be fooled It has its scenes of tragedy, violence and misfortunate heartache. Set in Verona it revolves around a story of feuding families, the Montagues and the Capulet’s of which Romeo is a Montague and Juliet a Capulate. The two meet for the first time at a ‘coming out’ banquet for Juliet. Romeo with his friends Ben...

7Dec

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Hansel and Gretel – Shakespeare’s Globe

A new version of the classic tale ‘Hansel and Gretel’ directed by Nick Bagnall takes us through a journey of abandonment, survival by all means and some slightly odd creatures luring the kids astray along the way. Ned Costello as Hansel has a fiery spirit who uses his intelligence and determination to keep the pair hopeful. Yasemin Özdemir as Gretel is just as powerful in spirit and never shy to show how angry she may feel, staying smiling all through the hardships of finding their way back home. Supported by an incredible cast, narrator Jenni Maitland is cheerful and engaging keeping everyone on their toes for what could possibly happen next. Photo: Ellie Kurttz As to where it goes, it is slightly confusing on what message we can take from this new adaptation by Simon Armitage. A...

Much Ado About Nothing – Shakespeare’s Globe

20May

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

Much Ado About Nothing – Shakespeare’s Globe

Shakespeare’s enduringly delightful tale of wit-crossed lovers enlivens The Globe Theatre this summer, pouring Mediterranean sun into every darkened crevice of that wooden “O”. Directed by Associate Artistic Director Sean Holmes and composed of an energetic cast of young actors, this production is both brash and bashful. The convivial environment of the open-air theatre is well suited to these frolicsome festivities and each of its performers seem intent upon maximizing the audiences delight in their collective spectacle. From the processional marches of the visiting Don Pedro and his crew of lovesick soldiers to the courting dances of Leonato and his bevy of irreverential young maidens, every opportunity for mirth is here seized. Led in their revelry by the ever-at-war and never-in-lov...

3Sep

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

As You Like It – Shakespeare’s Globe

Heading back to the Globe for what seems like the last summery evening of Shakespeare this year left me slightly underwhelmed and fidgety. As You Like It directed by Ellen Mcdougall runs with a gender fluid rendition, flouncy costumes filled with frill and colour with flicks of modern song. The classic has been done countless times in the past few years however maybe we have a hit a wall with what else can be done. The cast enter the stage with the unfortunate news that one cast member has fallen ill and an actor will be stepping in with script. I’m devastated to have not caught the name as this wonderful actor breathed a real freshness into the atmosphere that felt drier when they exited. The story itself is relatively easy to grasp as a couple are in love however Rosalind being ban...

3Aug

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

Macbeth – Shakespeare’s Globe

The Shakespeare’s Globe hit the headlines recently, when a man in a full latex gimp suit and face mask rocked up to a performance of The Comedy of Errors. It prompted a few complaints, but Globe staff shrugged off the furore and were largely worried that the rubbery punter might overheat. He was stood in front of the stage at a matinee on a warm day. Fetish enthusiasts were less visible on the night we attended Macbeth at the Globe, but one of the venue’s strengths is to render the audience as almost another actor in the proceedings. The shape and design of the Globe means that in the summer months when it is light, the full range of humanity is on show, whether that’s in the cheap ticket pit or one of the galleries. At one point, Macbeth (Max Bennet) exited the stage through the aud...

<strong>Henry V – Shakespeare’s Globe</strong>

27Nov

By Akshay RahejaNo Comments

London

Henry V – Shakespeare’s Globe

When Henry IV dies, his son takes over the crown. The new king has risen to power in fragile and uncertain times. He is provoked by an insult from the French Prince Louis. His brother and his uncle elicit him to prove himself. Henry V decides to invade France. Henry V has popularly been received as the celebration of an uncompromising nationhood and the eminence of imperial ambitions. But this production seems to offer several counter-narratives that exist within the story. Such as the story of Pistol, Bardolph, Nym and a young Boy, who are all caught up in the patriotic fervour and join Henry's army, hoping to enrich themselves in the chaos of invasion. Their narrative brings to light the indifference of the kings towards their infantry and the unfair imbalance of power structures that...

18Jun

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

King Lear – Shakespeare’s Globe

An epic event overtakes The Shakespeare’s Globe this season in King Lear as the long-awaited return of director Helena Kaut-Howson, 25 years after debuting Kathryn Hunter in the role of King Lear the duo have reunited to place the production in the grandest of arenas. And even more of a treat is to spot Artistic Director, Michelle Terry as the Cordelia/ Lear’s Fool as she handles the text beautifully- we are watching a piece where masters of this craft manoeuvre us through a very complex tragedy with grace and fine tuning to each line spoken. It was a pleasure to see the excitement of the cast- the energy of the space was heightened by the meaning of placing this production back on a stage 25 years on. I wonder how the creatives tackled this piece differently, which parts hold different me...