Shakespeare In Love
there is nothing more entertaining than the path of true love being intercepted by a very clever dog.
Shakespeare In Love
A film about the world's greatest playwright makes a natural transition to the stage.
Shakespeare In Love
there is nothing more entertaining than the path of true love being intercepted by a very clever dog.
Why see Shakespeare In Love?
Nominated for the Best New Comedy Olivier Award!
Based on the Academy Award-winning movie, Shakespeare in Love is a witty romantic comedy which follows the Bard as he embarks on a passionate love affair that would inspire one of his greatest works. Teeming with the sights and sounds of Elizabethan London, this adaptation boasts one of the largest casts ever assembled for a West End play.
Directed by John Madden and starring Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow, the 1998 film was a worldwide smash and won an astounding seven Oscars and three Baftas. Lee Hall, best known for writing Billy Elliot, has adapted Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard's original screenplay and prolific Shakespearean director Declan Donnellan will helm this stage adaptation. The cast is stacked with rising stars and old hands, and is led by Lucy Briggs Owen (Fortune's Fool) as Viola, and Tom Bateman (The Tunnel) as Shakespeare.
What is Shakespeare in Love About?
The year is 1593, and struggling playwright William Shakespeare is suffering from writer's block. His latest work, the provisionally titled Romeo and Ethel: The Pirate's Daughter, lies unfinished. The only problem is that his patron Philip Henslowe has already sold the rights. With the pressure on, Shakespeare starts auditioning for his Romeo. One actor, a young man named Thomas Kent, stands head and shoulders above the other hopefuls. However Kent is hiding a secret - he's not a young man at all! In reality, this impressive thespian is Viola de Lesseps, a young noblewoman with a passion for the theatre, who's determined to play the part even though women are forbidden from taking to the stage.
When Shakespeare discovers Lesseps true identity, the two begin a torrid love affair which transgresses every moral and social code of the day and inspires the playwright to complete the greatest love story he ever wrote: Romeo and Juliet.
Did You Know?
Dame Judi Dench won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Elizabeth I in the 1998 movie. Her total screen time was about 8 minutes, which comes second only to Beatrice Straight in 1976's Network as the briefest Oscar-winning performance ever.
Key Information
Audience
Suitable for audiences aged 12 and upwards
Run Time
Approx two hours 30 minutes including interval
Dates
Finished 18 Apr 2015
Cast
Orlando James as Will Shakespeare
Eve Ponsonby as Viola De Lesseps
Nicholas Asbury as Wessex
Neal Barry as Henslowe
Richard Bremmer as Tilney and Sir Robert De Lesseps
Paul Brennen as Fennyman
Suzanne Burden as Queen Elizabeth
Ryan Donaldson as Ned Alleyn
Edward Franklin as Marlowe
Ncuti Gatwa as Wabash
Gregg Lowe as Sam
Andy McKeane as Ralph
Peter Moreton as Burbage
Joy Richardson as Nurse
Charlie Tighe as Nol
Stuart Wilde as Webster
The ensemble cast will include Aaron Anthony, Jonno Davies, Peter Hannah, Nick Hart, Joshua Higgott, Sioned Jones, Sandy Murray, Ellie Nunn, Thomas Padden, Stevie Raine, Elliot Rennie and Florence Roberts.
Creative
Original screenplay: Marc Norman
Original screenplay: Tom Stoppard
Stage Adaptation: Lee Hall
Director: Declan Donnellan
Designer: Nick Ormerod
Music: Paddy Cunneen
Choreography: Jane Gibson
Lighting: Neil Austin
Sound: Simon Baker
Awards
What's On Stage Awards 2015
Best New Play
Reviews
Our review
Romance, comedy, tradegy
So they made a play out of Shakespeare in Love, the film responsible for Gwyneth Paltrow's Oscar. And guess what? It's much better.
Kitty McCarron
Customer reviews
5 reviews, average rating: (4.3 Stars)
Anonymous
brilliant adaption
Went this evening with apprehension about how it could be brought to the stage. All
characters played their parts beautifully and the comedy interspersed with the drama was
enjoyed across the whole of the audience if the howls of laughter was to go by. As Queen
Elizabeth 1 says ....'love the bit with the dog' . A must see !!!! ... Read more
Audrey
Such good entertainment!
With seats in the Grand Circle last night I thoroughly enjoyed the production of Shakespeare in Love. A good story was well played out, strikingly holding the audience's attention in moments of drama &
comedy. The music, dance, & costumes supported the actors successfully. Go & see this wonderful entertainment! ... Read more
Malcolm curtis
Comments
We sat in the dress circle and everyone was leaning forward and blocking our view , suggest you move the front of stage action further back .
In the second half the singing drowned the dialogue between Shakespeare and viola.
Why are you not adopting the best part of the film when viola to the surprise of all takes over the Juliet role.
Fennyman was excellent but I feel he should take on the style in the film being agresive but thoughtful, there was too much shouting the character needs to change through the play to appreciate the
actors.
... Read more
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