Writer: Darren Raymond
Director: Stephanie Badaru
As Street meets Shakespeare, there is a hilarious yet significant message about family, London street life, and asylum seekers in this amazing production of a reimagined Comedy of Errors. The Intermission Youth Theatre delivers another masterful story.
Like the original Shakespeare story, two sets of twins find themselves in the same place with comedic consequences. Anthony and Dominique are in the United Kingdom as asylum seekers, as they are unable to continue living in the land called Shakespeare. They speak only in Shakespeare’s language. Little do they realise that their fraternal twin, known as Ant and Dom, who they presume to be deceased, are alive. Their counterparts live in London, speaking Street as the natives do. As the twins share the same name as their counterparts, fun chaos erupts as no one can make sense of why two known characters in the community are suddenly acting strange.
This production starts by showing exactly what it is: a tale between individuals from two countries bridged, yet also divided, by language. The opening scene is one of the best in this production as it sets the tone for the rest of the play perfectly. Instantly, those speaking the Shakespearean language are met with backlash and confusion. The language is mocked and met with suspicion, only amplifying the tension that arises due to the unknown element that two sets of twins are somehow intermingling with each other and the community. This production captures the chaos of instability brought on when one is unable to fully trust those closest to them, as miscommunication occurs again and again.
There are some wonderful moments of comedy. The humour is well placed throughout the performance, which aids and even at times heightens the tensions. The balance between the comedic moments and the underlying tensions creates a good pace that is present throughout this production.
Though the actors in this production are young, their delivery, passion, and execution of the lines, mannerisms, and interactions with each other are spot on. There is no standout performance since each actor carries themselves so well on stage.
This being said, seeing as this play was rewritten with characters and scenes being added and removed, it was a shame that Antonio and Dominique are only fully accepted when it is realised that they are twins to their Street counterparts. Only two characters fully show kindness to those who speak Shakespeare, revealing that being other is a hindrance that is solved only when one finds a familial connection to the other. This in itself is an important message, yet one of the themes of this play centres around the issues asylum seekers face; perhaps a slightly different ending would seize this feeling more accurately. Nevertheless, the ending scene is heartwarming as the characters discover that family members once gone are now alive and present.
This is a wonderful reimagining of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors, not only preserving the fun and witty Shakespearean comedy but also modernising the story to shed light on current modern-day issues in London.
Runs until 20 December 2025
