Shakespeare

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Rae Mcken Reviewer: Scott Matthewman It is a sign of how much cruft there can be in a Shakespeare play that cutting Twelfth Night down to just an hour and fifteen minutes, as director and adapter Rae Mcken has done for the Scoop’s sixteenth annual season of free open-air theatre, retains all the touchpoints of the comedy. ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Loveday Ingram Reviewer: Abbie Rippon Set in the beautiful Grosvenor Park, Chester’s Open Air Theatre celebrates its 10th birthday this year with a trio of plays: Twelfth Night, The Borrowers and, of course, Henry V. This story of war, allegiance and identity remains as universal and relevant now as it was to the Elizabethans watching it at ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Julia Thomas Reviewer: John Roberts Julia Thomas has found magic with her production of Shakespeare’s hilarious comedy Twelfth Night as part of this year’s summer season at the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre. Not only has she managed to perfectly cast the rep company to play to their strongest suits, but she pushes the pace of the ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Gregory Doran Reviewer: James Garrington A powerful man offers help to a young woman in return for sexual favours. These days reading a headline like this may leave you feeling shocked, or maybe no longer surprised – for stories like this have been quite prominent in the news over the past several months as more and ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Joyce Branagh Costume Designer: Sara Perks Set Designer: Max Dorey  Composer: Eamonn O’Dwyer Reviewer: Ron Simpson “More matter for a May morning…” – or, better yet, for a Summer afternoon or evening! It’s difficult to imagine a more joyous three hours of Shakespeare for an open-air production in what is bound to be a glorious summer ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Gemma Fairlie Costume Designer: Adrian Linford  Set Design: Max Dorey Composer: Eamonn O’Dwyer Reviewer: Ron Simpson Henry V was the third of four plays at Shakespeare’s Rose to hold its Press performance, not, as it happened, a Press Night, but a matinee which illustrated one of the charms of Shakespeare at the Rose – and also ...

Writer: Joe Bennett Directors: Adrian Rawlins/Mike Friend Lighting: Mike Friend Set Design: Ed Ullyart Reviewer: Ron Simpson East Riding Theatre at Beverley gets far less attention than it deserves. Maybe the comfortable, welcoming, but rough-hewn, adaptation of a church as a theatre and the largely volunteer staff disguise what a professionally capable organization it is. Maybe there is an assumption ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Tatty Hennessy Reviewer: David Guest There’s mischief in the woods – well, in London squares at least – thanks to a magical al fresco production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream playing around some of London’s private garden squares over the summer. Shakespeare in the Squares is a company that stages outdoor productions of Shakespeare (As You Like ...