All about Shakespeare – in one night

The Bard’s complete works are coming to the Old Rep.

For one week only, Shakespeare’s entire canon of plays will be performed each night by just three actors! The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) comes to The Old Rep from Tuesday 24th–Saturday 28th July.

As the spotlight falls on this company up and coming professional actors, they will feel that rush of adrenaline that everyone feels before embarking on the challenge of a lifetime. Some show their prowess by climbing mountains, deep sea diving or exploring uncharted space, but the test of endurance these three professional actors from around Birmingham have set themselves is performing all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in 97 minutes.

“In The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), the range of emotions that I go through in around one and a half hours,” said actor Matthew Duckett (pictured), having a welcome coffee during a break in rehearsals, “is like living in fast forward mode- exhausting! For example:- one minute I swoon at Juliet’s feet, the next I jump around the stage and rap the story of Othello, then offer advice to Macbeth in a ‘perrrrrrrrrfect’ Scottish accent, fence Hamlet, and then, of course face the mountainous task at the end.”

This promising young actor, who studied at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, continued, “I feel so fortunate that I have been given this opportunity so early in my career. I am determined to give it my all. During my background research for this project I realised that Shakespeare never intended his works to be only highbrow entertainment but accessible to all, which is something I think we achieve here.”

When asked who should see this play he replied, “Anyone between the ages of 12 and 112. There is something here for everyone. Even if you do not like Shakespeare, it’s still fun and enjoyable to watch.”

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) is produced by the National Production Company and directed by the award winning John-Robert Partridge. It runs from Tuesday 24th to Saturday 28th July 2018 at The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham. Tickets are available from www.oldreptheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 0121 359 9444.