Lace Market Theatre and the Bard

To coincide with all things Shakespeare (and today being his registered day of birth) read below for a Nottingham secret and piece of TV that must be seen.

On Saturday, I had the good fortune of booking tickets to see A Midsummer Night's Dream on the 400th anniversary of his death day. (Unknown to me.) Now this isn't a review about that production. (It was great by the way.) But more about the place it was in.

The Lace Market Theatre is a hidden gem in Nottingham. Literally just up the around from a main street, take a right and you're there. It is loving run by volunteers who put on a vast range of plays. (And if the one I saw is anything to go by then they are very enjoyable indeed.) Just alerting you all to its existence. Should you want some cheap, good quality theatre. Support your local!

In other theatre *cough*Shakespeare*cough* related news - the BBC. The BBC did good. To celebrate this strange anniversary, the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon put together a cracking line up for Shakespeare LIVE! It's the best type of this TV that I've seen in a while. The programme did a great job of encompassing the mass influence the Bard has had across art forms and generations. A slurry of famous names took part, as well as multidisciplinary performers from across genres. From opera, ballet and musical theatre to hip hop, jazz and more traditional renditions of Shakespeare. It had it all. And it was great. It will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer if you live in the UK. Definitely worth a sit down and catch up. 

Review: Romeo and Juliet - Rose Theatre (PLAY)

Romeo and Juliet. Infamous for their love. A story that we all know. The one that Shakespeare is probably most famed for.

This love story has been retold for over 400 years, and due to such familiarity, it poses a tricky task. Yes, it is probably a safe bet in terms of drawing in various audiences (who doesn't love a doomed tale of star-crossed lovers?) but it is equally risky. Do you change it? Do you add your own interpretation or even words to the masterpiece of William himself? How can you make a 400 year old love story something that contemporary audiences can resonate with?

This current version of the play has a run until the 21st March at the Rose Theatre in Kingston Upon Thames (a leafy suburb of London.) And most likely because of its location, the prices for this play are reasonably cheap. Particularly the tickets that we paid for on our visit last night. The Rose Theatre do this fantastic deal, where (for certain productions) you can pay £8 to sit in the 'Pit Cushions'. This basically means that you sit on the floor in the space in front of the stage. You either bring your own cushion or borrow one from the theatre. Simple. This deal is so fantastic, as you get a very good view. (If not one of the best.) Now, I naively thought that only young people would be snapping up these tickets, but to the far right of me, a pair of elderly ladies seemed to be quite content soaking in the Shakespeare with their cushions. I really think this is a great idea - and it's something I've never experienced before. I'm not sure I could really go back to normal seating again. There is something much more comfortable and informal about watching a play on the floor. (I did cheekily take my shoes off.) I think the reason I loved it so much was because it reminded me of being in Primary School and sitting cross-legged for story time. And this is exactly what theatre is. Just a shinier-more-glorified-adult-version of it.

Now to talk about the actual play (rather than my love for the floor.) This production took some bold risks. From the fact that Mercutio was a woman (which I very much appreciated) to the addition of a character that doesn't exist - Pedro. (Basically a servant of the Capulet household.) It took me a little while to settle into this version and to let go of the Baz Luhrmann adaptation (step aside Leo) but once I did I was swept away by the direction of Sally Cookson. She and the music maestro Benji Bower created a very intense story that pulsated and exploded in key moments throughout the play. There were moments of dance and physical theatre to highlight important emotional points that really gave this adaptation its edge.

Apart from the fantastic portrayals given by both Romeo and Juliet (especially the Nurse, she stole every scene she was in) praise must be given to the set designers. They've created a very dynamic stage, with different levels, that were used most effectively throughout the performance. I was very surprised at the athleticism of the actors, as they ran across the stage, climbed up the set and jumped down again. It really utilised the space and made for a fast-paced dynamic show. By having these explosive moments, they made the emotional scenes even more reflective and more powerful. Having this stark contrast really worked to the play's advantage. And equally made the dance/musical elements of the play make sense and hold more validity in their addition.

All in all, if you fancy a lovely evening (or afternoon) I heartedly recommend paying a visit to Kingston and seeing this adaptation of one of the best love stories to have ever been written.

For never was there a story of more woe,
than this of Juliet and her Romeo.

Review: Antony and Cleopatra - The Globe (PLAY)

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."

Now yes, this is the wrong play, but it does nicely allude to what literary genius we are referring to!

Shakespeare.

The other day, me and my sister when to see Antony and Cleopatra at The Globe Theatre in London. I love Shakespeare, and love the theatre, so was excited to see another of his plays come to life (there's only so much you can do by readying aloud by yourself.) Despite this, I knew nothing of his play starring two of history's notorious lovers but was definitely willing to give it a go.

Especially considering that the ticket was only £5.

May I repeat.

Five. Pounds.

Throughout the summer, the Globe puts on Shakespearean plays, offering groundling tickets (a.k.a standing) for £5. This is an absolute bargain. And you must be thinking, there's a catch? Right? And yes, I suppose there are. But is it worth it? Definitely.

Here are a few pros and cons about these tickets:

• Pro: The price is fantastic.
• Con: You have to stand for the duration of the play.
• Pro: You can rest during the interval and sit on the ground.
• Con: You have to queue a little so that you can get as close to the stage as possible.
• Pro: You have one of the BEST views in the house.
• Con: If it rains, (as the theatre is open-air) you are left standing there in the wet. (Only macs are allowed for protection - no umbrellas.)
• Pro: You have some cheeky little secret eye contact with the actors.

Now briefly onto the play itself. As all good Shakespearean plays, this tragedy ends in a way you would expect, following the story of Roman General (Antony) turned to a fool through his love for Cleopatra. There is a balance of love and violence peppered with a clash of the East and the West. The production itself was very dynamic, and they really engaged with the whole audience by using the whole of the stage. I did enjoy watching this play, but it doesn't make it onto my list of favourites. But what I think really helped me enjoy my experience was the design of the theatre itself.

Being an open air theatre, there is a strong feeling of freedom that surrounds the production of the play. There is a feeling of anything-could-happen and a sense of improvisation if needed (even though no-one would change Shakespeare.) Because you aren't enclosed within a roofed building, you are opened to the elements. Which, of course, could be distracting - but luckily for me provided the perfect real-life pathetic fallacy. As Antony's power diminished, the sun went away and the clouds came out, offering a smattering of rain. (There was also the odd pigeon at the most dramatic points, just to add tension. If anything having no roof, somehow made the environment feel more true to life.)

At one point, Cleopatra even began talking to an airplane overhead, as it just happened that her line made sense to do so. (You had to be there.)

So in essence, in a really rambling way of saying so - if you're ever around in London at this time of year, grab yourself one of those £5 tickets and stick it out just like them peasants used to. (It really is worth it.)

And one last thing worth mentioning - slightly similar to the Art Everywhere Project previously mentioned, there is a bench hunt called Books about Town going on in London, where 50 book bench sculptures have been plotted around the city. Each bench depicts a different story. This one was outside the Globe, and of course featured the one and only, Mr W. Shakespeare. (These benches are only around until 15th September 2014 - so keep an eye out!)