Thank you for visiting our archive. Each performance submitted to our website will be explained in detail in its own blog post. You can choose to look through these posts in a variety of ways.
“A group of students try to decide what Shakespearean play to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. As they fight for their favourite, friendships are made and challenged and they learn the true meaning of teamwork.” --description from the Fringe Programme
Read More“Nature versus nurture? Are villains born or bred? Can they ever find true redemption? Theater OCU explores Shakespeare's most villainous characters - Macbeth, Iago, Aaron, Tamora and Lady Macbeth - and asks the question: what is bad Shakespeare?” --description from Fringe programme
This exploration of Shakespeare's villains focused on, among others, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, Iago, Tamora and Aaron, and Angelo from Measure for Measure.
Read More“Shakespeare's play with an urban vibe; fairyland is Gotham. Oberon and Theseus are Batman and Bruce Wayne. Who is Puck? Why, Robin, of course! Come see this old favourite with a new twist.” --description from the Fringe Programme
Read More“I've always had a special interest in the star-crossed lovers, destined to love each other to death through the centuries and through all art forms. How could I not get passionate about Annika Nyman's play (and mind!). The young author who comes from a cold country makes them survive Shakespeare's intended ending, never betraying his writing. We've all asked ourselves at one time or other what would happen if Romeo and Juliet didn't die. But if they did, would they be alive or would they be survivors?” --Director's note and description from Fringe Programme
Read More“We all agree Shakespeare's characters need professional help. They won't find it here. Shakespeare Syndrome, a one-act comedy, shows what happens when several characters go to the same psychiatrist's office. Though this be madness, there's no method in't.” –description from the Fringe Programme
Read More“MacBeth and Kurt Cobain and Lady Macbeth and Courtney Love inspire a pitch-black comedy about unbridled ambition, hunger for power and an addiction to intoxication and ecstasy. A triptych of hilarious interviews with the pop stars, a freaky fast-forward puppet version of Macbeth which results in a merciless symbiosis of the grunge couple Cobain-Love and the Thanes of Cawdor. A crazy journey into the world of two seriously troubled people who are trying to escape from their mental prison, as their loneliness howls through the room and the attempts to reverse the inevitable end are heart-breaking.” --description from Fringe Programme
Read MoreThe play is a monodrama depicting the conflict experienced by a minor character when the producer of the play plays the roles of the playwright, the director and the producer. The single character reflects on both his love of Hamlet and his aspiration to play Hamlet. Due to his personal, social and cultural circumstances, the dream of playing Hamlet diminishes. He visualizes an encounter with Hamlet, the character.
Read More“No one will remember me; only killing makes history.' Enclosed in her chamber with her Confessor and her trusted Nurse, the Queen faces the ordeal of giving birth to the King's longed-for son and heir. Moving between reality and delirium, she fears for the survival of her child as she reveals the hidden story behind Lear and his ambitions. An intensely lyrical imagining of the untold story behind Lear's forgotten Queen. A powerful drama from Ronnie Dorsey, writer of A Fine Line and Of Sound Mind.” --description from AssemblyFestival.com
Read More"Join us on a journey through Shakespeare's wonderful world. Meet William Shakespeare and many of his most fabulous characters. Lots of laughter and audience participation. "Highly recommended" (Primary Times). "Energetic, interactive." (FringeReview.co.uk)--description from Fringe Festival programme.
This fun 45 minute children's show took place in the gardens of the C South venue.
Read More“Bassanio has been murdered and, under suspicion, Gratiano is forced to revisit his Fascist past. He was never the hero – just a minor character, the plucky comic relief – but he never thought he played the villain.
In a challenging sequel to William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice we explore the politics of prejudice in the 20th Century. Amongst the turmoil of post war Italy we read between the lines of Shakespeare's classic tale, examine the true nature of the characters, and ask just how Mussolini managed to use democracy to turn a people against themselves.” --description from company website
Read More“The life, the times and every single play - all in just one hour! Specially created to mark the four hundredth anniversary of his death, The Ruff Guide to Shakespeare is a glorious celebration of the work of the world's greatest playwright. Expect silly sketches, toe-tapping songs, daft dance routines and extracts from all the famous and some less well-known plays. This show is the perfect introduction to Shakespeare and to the Tudor England that gave birth to his writing. Those familiar with Bristol Old Vic Theatre School's tours of Shakespeare to young audiences will recognise our trademark mix of crystal clear storytelling, live music and inventive staging, bringing new life and understanding to the beauty and power of Shakespeare's verse.”--description from company website.
Two versions of Shakespeare's gory masterpiece, performed in two wildly different styles
Read MoreTold from the perspective of Shylock's friend Tubal, 'Shylock' presents one of Shakespeare's most controversial characters in a fresh light.
“Villain, victim, or is Shylock someone more intriguing? Celebrating Bill-400, Guy Masterson returns with his extraordinary, multi-award winning examination of Shakespeare's controversial Jew in one of the most successful globally acclaimed shows of the last two decades!” (description from the Edinburgh Fringe Programme)
Read MoreHamlet in Bed
Presented in English
Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, Scotland, as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
August 3-29, 2016
“Noir thriller about sex, death, theatre and the world's most famous play. Direct from its hit off-Broadway season starring Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress Annette O'Toole.
"Provocative, intense, sexy!" (Hollywood Reporter).
"Electrifying" 5 stars (Time Out, NY Critics' Pick)” --description from Fringe Programme.
Richard Jordan Productions and Brian Long with Pleasance
Writer: Michael Laurence
Director: Lisa Peterson
Set Design: Rachel Hauck
Costumes: Jessica Pabst
Lighting: Scott Zielinski
Sound: Bart Fasbender
Cast:
Spencer Aste (Hamlet and Michael)
Annette O'Toole (Gertrude and Anna May Miller)
The roles of Hamlet /Michael are also played by Michael Laurence at selected performances.
This performance was previously put on in New York City in 2015.
Selected Reviews:
"Three Weeks review (5 stars): "A phenomenal take on Shakespeare’s play." http://www.threeweeksedinburgh.com/article/hamlet-in-bed-richard-jordan-productions-and-brian-long-productions/
Edinburgh Festivals Magazine review (5 Stars): "Hamlet in Bed shows insight into the lives of two lost people looking for acceptance with beautiful style."
http://www.edfestmag.com/hamlet-in-bed-2/
British Theatre Guide review (4 stars): "a beautifully acted play that will appeal to anyone in love with the Bard or New York theatricality."
http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/hamlet-in-bed-pleasance-court-13117
Edinburgh Guide review (4 stars): "a clever, innovative homage to the timeless, iconic role of Hamlet." http://www.edinburghguide.com/festival/2016/edinburghfringe/hamletinbedpleasancecourtyardreview-17231
WhatsOnStage review (3 stars): a "problematic study on aspects of Hamlet" http://www.whatsonstage.com/edinburgh-theatre/reviews/hamlet-in-bed-pleasance-courtyard-festival-fringe_41495.html
BroadwayBaby review (3 stars): "If you have an obsession with Hamlet that comes close to Michael’s, this is definitely a production for you. Otherwise... you might just regard the whole play as a ‘Freudian slip’."
http://broadwaybaby.com/shows/hamlet-in-bed/714939
Fest review (2 stars): "tells us more about the narcissism of Off-Broadway actors than about Shakespeare's characters"
https://www.festmag.co.uk/theatre/103623-hamlet-in-bed
“The bardic breakfasters are back! C's Shakespearean sensation returns. 25th anniversary sell-out edition!” --description from the Fringe Programme
Read More“Shit-Faced Shakespeare is the deeply highbrow fusion of an entirely serious Shakespeare play with an entirely shit-faced cast member. Side-splitting, raucous and completely interactive, the show has been running since 2010 and has already entertained over 30,000 eager theatre goers across the UK. With a genuinely drunken professional actor selected at random every night, no two shows are ever the same and audiences can even dictate when the actor gets to drink more to prevent unwanted sobriety. Shit-Faced Shakespeare seeks to introduce a new generation of theatre-goers to the works of the Bard by reviving the raucous, interactive and vibrant nature of Elizabethan theatre with a very modern twist - reminding them as we go to always enjoy Shakespeare responsibly.” --description from company website
The play selected for the Shit-Faced treatment in 2016 was Measure for Measure.
"When I approached Muller’s HamletMachine, I re-discovered Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Both were unrelenting. Shakespeare’s Hamlet finds himself on a journey to cleanse his house. The house his mother and uncle contaminated with murder, lies and manipulation in order to preserve the crown. Muller pummels the Shakespearean Hamlet for his naiveté, which hinders him from taking a clear stand or from taking action."
Read MoreThe deeds of Shakespeare’s most devious and dastardly villains were brought to life in this multi-art form show which featured theatre, dance, 3D soundscapes and film.
Read More“Shakespeare’s death may have transpired long before our collective time (let’s make that 400 years, if we’re being precise,) but there truly is no denying the lasting influence of his works. Shakespearean works in all forms have long since become a ubiquitous part of our culture, and is in respect for this that the greater Rochester area community does its best to honor and appreciate all of the valuable art he left behind.”
Read More“Gin & Tonic Productions embarks on its first European Tour with a brand new Shakespearean tragi-comedy: BOB - the play that Shakespeare would have written, could have written but never got round to writing. The eclectic mix of farce, cabaret and satire, live jazz and Kanye West is certain to make you slap your knee and guffaw like Elizabeth I watching traditional Shakespeare comedies. Scandinavia is in crisis! While Sweden is hit by an apocalyptic incident, Ikea’s manuals having dramatically biodegraded, the ambitious Lady Bob takes over Finland by an unscrupulous coup d’etat. Will her naive husband Bob, now puppet ruler of Finland, manage to save Scandinavia from his wicked wife and her devoted squad of murderous nuns and finally become a hero worthy of the bard?” –Gin & Tonic Productions, website description
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This research was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
