Reviewed by Holly
Everyone in the UK will have had to study Shakespeare at some point during their education, potentially even multiple times, whilst yes he is one of England's most notable writers, his work can be hard to digest and dreaded to study due to its archaic use of language, but what about if his plays were told drunk? Then you’ve got Sh!t-faced Shakespeare. Highly regard at the Edinburgh Fringe Comedy Festival, this comedy brings now life and laughter to Shakespeare’s work by well… applying alcohol to it and I cant help but wonder why no other company has done this sooner.
Their latest production of Hamlet take the well renown tragedy of a Danish Prince who wishes to avenge his father after he was murdered by his own brother, very serious play indeed, however when every night a different member of the cast is plied full of booze before the show and during as well thanks to the audience, it becomes less a tragedy and far more of a comedy.
The premise of Sh!t-faced Shakespeare is to randomly select a member of the cast each night, can be anyone, get them right and royally drunk and have them perform the show, to the best of their abilities, and I say this loosely, expect the fourth wall to be broken immediately as soon as they enter the stage, as to expect them to remember their Shakespearean lines can be a little too much to a drunk actor with a willing audience to want them to get more drunk, but the result is a night of theatre you will never forget and will bring you back to see another actor undergo to drunk performance.
Now before the show I didn't know much about the play Hamlet, but I have to say this was the most entertaining and enjoyable way I could have ever fathomed to take in the show.
From the moment the curtains are drawn the audience is welcomed into a world with few rules and spontaneity. The Emcee for the play starts the shows going over a few ground rules, one actor will be very drunk whilst they try to act but it will not go to plan and then introduces the audience to a great plot device, instruments to use when we want the drunk actor to have another drink, because well, we can't let them get sober now can we?
All jokes aside, this is truly a wonderful night of theatre and an absolute triumph at making Shakespeare more accessible and enjoyable for an everyday audience, whilst I can’t talk much about what I saw as it will change every night, what I can tell you is that I have not laughed so much at a show for a long time, the lack of inhibitions and genuine moments of laughter within the cast once things start to go wrong is a joy to watch and be a part of.
I highly recommend everyone to go see the show and if you can see it multiple times, I know I’ve already booked my tickets to go see it again, knowing it will be a completely different show but I cannot wait to see how it changes and how the case and audience will react.
If you are scared about Shakespeare plays, don't be, get yourself a drink from the bar, settle yourself in your seat and enjoy the show, after all one of the cast will be sh!t-faced on stage, what could possibly go wrong?
Sh!t-faced Shakespeare is on at the Leicester Square Theatre til the 21st September then its
going on tour across the UK.
Tickets are available https://www.shitfacedshows.com/
Post a Comment