Each of our projects starts with an understanding of a chosen Shakespeare work. We then 'mine' it for anything that would make a different sense ​in an alternative context. 

​

We workshop selected characters, words, and themes to discover alternative possibilities, staying faithful to the creative genius of Shakespeare.

​

The workshop material provides us with ideas of how the characters/themes can be recreated in another guise, using additional new words.

 

Re-imagining Shakespeare's original plays, and creating plays that draw on Shakespeare's life, are a good way of re-ordering Shakespeare's Bones, using Shakespeare’s DNA to create completely new works.

These alternative POVs allow us to use the original play's themes, characters and words. However, in doing so, we are also allowed to subvert them, as determined by the 'givens' of the new play's setting, which questions their original assumptions.

 

When we link what we know about Shakespeare's life with what we find in his plays, a rich seam of creative energy is unleashed. Aspects of his life inform the works he created.

​

What links all the new plays are:-​

• Shakespeare’s original words and characters feature strongly throughout

• New words written to blend with/complement original words

• Major themes from the original are re-explored from different angles

Our work to date has uncovered:

 

It is possible to write new words in such a way that they do not detract from, or jar with, the accompanying Shakespeare words

​​​

Each of the plays are able to present themes and character developments that complement those found in the original plays, but are at the same time significantly different

​​​

Audiences of the new plays may be motivated to revisit the original Shakespeare, keeping his work alive

​

A whole new format of play is available to audiences that is very different to that of the original; they are shorter in length, have all characters on stage throughout, and are less plot-driven.