All Articles
Comedy of Errors
Shakespeare North PlayhouseThe Comedy of Errors is one of Shakespeare’s earliest plays and features an almost Parent Trap style mix up of identical twins. In the original play, Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse visit Ephesus and end up confused with the Antipholus and Dromio that live there, leading to a lot of slapstick, declarations of love and a commotion around a necklace.
A new, modernised version produced by Shakespeare North Playhouse and Stephen Joseph Theatre transports the action to the 1980’s and the towns of Prescot and Scarborough where each theatre is located. This self-described “more or less” version by Elizabeth Godber and Nick Lane has, by their own admission, been “messed about with”, and now features classic 80’s songs, shell suits, and a return of the War of the Roses.
Six
Liverpool PlayhouseStarting life as a student show at the Edinburgh Fringe, Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss have created a cultural phenomenon that does for Tudor history what Hamilton has done for American history. Detailing - in a loose sense - how history has reduced the six wives of Henry VIII to a rhyme, Six delves into the life of each wife in a Horrible Histories meets The X Factor sassy pop-rock concert.
During the 75 minute musical, the wives tell their individual story in a bid to work out who suffered the most at the hands of Henry VIII, and should therefore become the leader of the girl band that they have created. The topics of the wives songs range from childbirth, unwanted sexual advances, forced marriages, and of course death. Almost every musical genre is covered, from R&B, big power ballads, and pop.