Welcome to our regular What’s On section during Lockdown compiled by our Artistic Director Craig Morrow:

For this Lock-in Guide we’re going in hard with the Shakespeare. Renaissance theatre is a passion of mine and given that 23 April was the anniversary of the Bard’s birth it seems fitting.

 

To commemorate this theatrical red-letter-day a wealth of great performance has been released or re-released online and so I thought I’d take the time to pick out some personal highlights.

BBC CULTURE IN QUARANTINE

The BBC has curated an iPlayer box set of Shakespeare, from the RSC and Shakespeare’s Globe’s archive, along with a special adaptation of Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s ballet Romeo & Juliet, filmed on location in Hungary.

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A particular highlight is Hamlet starring Paapa Essiedu, in Simon Godwin’s production of this most famous of plays.  We have been quite lucky to have had a number of great Hamlets in the past few years: David Tennant, Andrew Scott; Benedict Cumberbatch; Maxine Peake; but Paapa’s performance is arguably the greatest of this generation of fine performances, bringing a refreshing likeability to the Danish prince. [/expand]

SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE ONLINE

Alongside the productions of The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream available as part of the BBC’s offerings, Shakespeare’s Globe productions are also available via their YouTube Channel

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Available Now – The Two Noble Kinsman (2018)

Directed by Barrie Rutter (formerly Artistic Director of Northern Broadsides) this 2018 production about two friends turned rivals in their quest for love; set in a ‘Merrie England’ infused with folk culture this is a powerful romance from Shakespeare and writing partner John Fletcher.

From 11 May 2020 – Macbeth (2020)

A production specially commissioned for younger audiences, this psychological thriller examines the dangers of political ambition in a gripping, full-scale 90 minute performance in the Globe Theatre. [/expand]

CBEEBIES’ A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

Fairies, magic, celebration and comical confusion in a fantastic introduction to Shakespeare, available on iPlayer!

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Swashbuckle! pirates Cook and Line “help” William Shakespeare put on a play in this adaptation filmed at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool.

The production features CBeebies favourites, including Justin Fletcher as Nick Bottom – the star of the play within a play who undergoes a magical transformation!

If the little ones enjoy this, then there’s also an adaptation of The Tempest. [/expand]