This distilled version of The Comedy of Errors was specially created for schools and family audiences in association with acclaimed theatre company, Told by an Idiot.
To the delight of thousands of children in the audiences, Shakespeare's funny story was matched with equal visual humour in the costumes and props, which included over-sized false noses and bosoms made of footballs.
Director Paul Hunter was keen to use any musical skills the actors had, no matter how rusty. Members of the cast swapped roles regularly, moving 'off-stage' to accompany a scene on an instrument, and vice versa. Especially memorable characters were the tap-dancing Abbess and spoons-playing Antipholus twins.
The production played at the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon and toured to schools in Warwickshire, the North East and London, before being performed in New York alongside the RSC repertoire at the Lincoln Center in 2011.
This production of The Comedy of Errors was recorded by Digital Theatre and is available to download (for a fee) from their website.
CAST INCLUDES: David Carr , Dyfan Dwyfor , Christine Entwisle, Mariah Gale, Richard Katz, Debbie Korley, Jonjo O'Neill, Dharmesh Patel, Peter Peverley, Sophie Russell, James Traherne, James Tucker
'I doubt you could see it without feeling Shakespeare was your contemporary, whether you are nine or 99'
The Guardian
'Those who say Shakespeare is too difficult for children should hang their heads in shame
Daily Telegraph