Southwark Playhouse (studio)
Toby Hulse (director)
90 (length)
16 September 2025 (released)
16 September 2025
As part of Southwark Playhouse’s Shakespeare for Schools scheme this lively inventive retelling of one of Shakespeare’s most loved and performed comedies is packed with fun and frolics.
Toby Hulse as director has edited this down to a 90-minute version of the play and puts most emphasis on the physically funny moments. Setting it in detailed Victorian playroom, designed by Georgie White, six young siblings decide to act out a story to earn themselves iced buns for playing nicely together. There is controversy from the offset with Nancy deciding she’s in charge and wants to tell a story of love, royalty, and fairies. Two of the boys want it to be all action. Only the youngest boy Cecil wants to play a bad fairy. So is born their conflicted version of the well-trodden play.
The entire cast ( Martin Bassindale, Daisy Ann Fletcher, Fintan Hayek, Lara Grace Ilori, Any Umerah and Dewi Wykes give of their all with such energy and exuberance that the story bursts out of them. Swapping characters and halting the proceedings when they feel the story needs a little further explanation. There is no doubt this production holds attention for its entire length and has some extremely funny moments particularly Finak Hayek’s much wanted ‘death scene’ in the play within the play.
This is where I feel, fun as it is, this version is slightly problematic. It’s intention is to make the play more accessible to a younger audience. But, by adding another level to the story of children playacting the characters, there is a concern that it makes the story even more complex. But it is clear throughout how much fun has been had in the rehearsal process, and how much this translates into the fun the actors are having performing it.
There is much to enjoy here, with lighting and sound by Will Monks and Fraser locating the action and adding the magic the story requires. Giving the last moments of the play a perfect finish.
This is a dream worth remembering and a delightful introduction to Shakespeare’s work.
Photo credit: Charlie Lyne
