WEEK 5

WEEK 5 - SHAKESPEARE TODAY

QUESTION: Analyse contemporary Shakespeare productions with reference to live performances you may have seen or clips or footage available online. You should comment on what you notice about them and how they differ from what you know about the original performance conditions of Shakespeare’s work? (Don’t be afraid to point out the obvious).

A contemporary Shakespeare production I have seen recently is Hamlet, directed by Robert Icke. It was very different to works that Shakespeare himself would have produced. Shakespeare would have had less technologically advanced sets. This modern production had frosting and unfrosting glass used as a curtain which was something I'd never seen before. Shakespeare would have only used curtains and the majority of his sets would have been made out of wood. There would have been no lights that Shakespeare would use so he would have had to use natural light. Any music would have been played live and certain sound effects will also have had to be made using a compromise sound source as electricity didn't exist. The modern Hamlet I saw used multimedia live on stage and used live camera feeds during the performance. This can really take an audience to a complete other level and really makes you feel part of the world of the play.
Another modern interpretation I've seen is Twelfth Night at the National Theatre. The set was outstanding and was very versatile. It span around and moved horizontally and vertically. There were working water features on stage which the actors interacted with. It was obviously a very expensive production. The costume was very colourful and featured a lot of sequins and feathers. This is similar to Shakespeare's time where they used many different and lavish colours for their costumes.
The actors costumes are also much different. Some productions use the classic English costumes, but most modern productions base their plays in a more modern setting and use modern costume. On average, a west end theatre actor today would be earning about £518-£633 a week. It depends on the show. So financially, it is less frugal than in Shakespeare's time. In both the plays I saw, there were women who played the female characters. This is different than Shakespeare's time as boys played the female parts. In Twelfth Night, a woman actually played a male character which is vastly different to Shakespearian theatre.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5xoRm8BGX0 - Here is a trailer for Twelfth Night at The National.

Shakespeare plays aren't just produced as plays, many have been produced into films with famous actors. Including Hamlet (David Tennant), Macbeth (Dame Judi Dench, Ian McKellen), Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh), Macbeth (Patrick Stewart, Kate Fleetwood0 and many more.