North London Reading Group

I have unashamedly stolen this idea and am busy planning my next Shakespeare plays.

January – As You Like It

So far I’ve seen the aforementioned As You Like It at the National Theatre. The production received some excellent reviews, including from the Guardian – and the set was stunning.

Now, it is not my job to plot the story for you but for those unfamiliar with As You Like It, wonderful Wikipiedia will tell you what you need to know. The play started in a city traders’ office, which didn’t quite work in the context of the play. However, it all falls apart as the set is pulled up so that the desks and chairs hang, forming the Forest of Arden. At this point it all becomes quite brilliant. The furniture is forestified with greenery and allows for actors and singers to sit up high.

It’s also an extremely funny production with a wonderful scene with humans as sheep – amazingly simple and effective costumes with the flock wearing cream knitted jumpers – and, of course, Shakespeare’s amusing take on couples and gender, all ending well and with some humorous matches.

February – The Winter’s Tale

Next up is a favourite of mine, dissected at A-level, and one I have never seen performed. For this play, I returned to a more traditional setting and went to the Sam Wannamaker theatre.

A glorious setting and candle lit. More traditional in approach and sumptuous costumes where the difference between royalty and the shepherds is clearly marked by their outfits.

As ever, with Globe productions, there was a touch of the actors engaging with or getting into the audience, often to their surprise.

The end of the play left me cold though, something I had found amusing as a teenager left me angry this time, did Shakespeare value women so little that he really thought that Hermione would so easily forgive Leontes – the man who imprisoned her, indirectly caused the death of his son and had their baby daughter abandoned, presumably to her death?

March – King Lear

Next up is surely the perfect location for a book lover – the brilliant Creation Theatre Company is performing King Lear in Blackwell’s bookshop in Oxford. The run has just been extended to 24 March and you can get tickets too.

April – Pericles

It’s back to the Sam Wannamaker in April for Pericles.

Further on…

It’s not a cheap pursuit, although arguably easier and more affordable in London where there are so many Shakespeare plays to choose from. There will be plenty of under £10 tickets sought.

The idea is to see unusual plays, e.g. Pericles, or different venues and adaptations, e.g. in a bookshop, modern v traditional. Looking ahead, options include:

• Measure for Measure at The Rose – a theatre I’ve never been to and am keen to visit
• Cymbeline in Stratford
• And perhaps something quirky at the Edinburgh Fringe in August.

Do let me know below if you hear of something different coming up or if you want to join me on this venture.