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Although Shakespeare is synonymous with Southwark
and the Globe, few know he actually spent his early career in Shoreditch.
This stage of his life is now being retold by young people from
east London, as Jimmy Tam reports...
Shakespeare will be brought screaming into the 21st Century when
over
fifty Hackney teenagers begin work with the National Youth Theatre
to create three plays based on the Bard's life in Shoreditch.
However,
those put off by the thought of Shakespeare - like many of the young
actors initially were - will be in for a surprise.
"Expect
three minutes of Hamlet and then a lot of Shoreditch," NYT
artistic director Paul Roseby told me. "It's very much their
voice."
Hoxton
Square, the venue for their endeavours, will be transformed into
a living Shakespearian arena for Shakespeare in the Square
from 30 July to 1 August.
"guerrilla
Shakespeare"
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NYT
artistic director Paul Roseby
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Not
only will spectators be able to watch the plays, but they'll have
the opportunity to send text messages to 'Shakespeare' via an interactive
board.
Characters
will also perform "guerrilla Shakespeare" in the surrounding
streets.
Preparations
begin this weekend when the participants will be meeting flamboyant
British actress Miriam Margolyes, who played the Nurse in Baz Luhrmann's
film blockbuster Romeo + Juliet.
The
teenagers will also be doing workshops, visiting the Globe Theatre,
and watching various Shakespeare plays in the lead-up to the big
event.
Next week I'll be going behind the scenes
to meet some of the young people taking part, and to find out what
they really think about Shakespeare, Shoreditch and being on the
stage...
Shakespeare in the Square takes place
in Hoxton Square, east London from 30 July to 1 August.
More
on Shakespeare in the Square in our July theatre
guide
Read
our critic Mark Shenton's preview of the new season at the Globe
Theatre
See
also the National Youth Theatre
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