An energetic, modern romp that lets Shakespeare’s forgotten characters have the last
laugh.
Shakespeare: the man, the myth, the legend. The same writer who gave us some of the
most iconic tales ever told– wrapped in poetry, pulsing with human nature. His plays have been performed for centuries, day after day, across the world. No celebrity will ever outshine Romeo, no mythical being is more dissected than Puck. But what if those characters had a conscience? What if they were doomed to live their plays over and over– so often that Romeo began to hate Juliet, that Viola grew tired of Orsino? What if, after all this time, they turned on the pen that wrote them?
That is the hilarious premise of (Un)Shakespearean Nightmares, a riotous comedy that lets Shakespeare’s heroes– and more importantly, his overlooked side characters– finally have their say. Fed up with bowing to a tyrannical, self-absorbed Bard, they decide the only solution is murder.
We follow Rosaline (Bianca Tornea)– Romeo’s forgotten love before Juliet– as she reveals
her hand in the star-crossed lovers’ tragic fate and sets her sights on an even bigger prize: Shakespeare himself. Persuading the Bard to pen one more play that allows a sidelined character to step into the spotlight, she cleverly distracts him while recruiting Caliban, Romeo, Hamlet, Viola, and even Touchstone the Jester to plot his downfall. Their weapon?
Not swords or spells, but Shakespeare’s own overinflated ego. What unfolds is an hour of gleeful scheming, interrupted by absurd detours: Ross and Lennox sloppily delivering news reports, the Three Witches serving up a rap about quiche, and Sir Nathaniel and Holofernes
rebranded as hyper-masculine “alpha males” trying to turn Shakespeare into an incel. The
result is a show brimming with silliness that had the audience giggling throughout. The
nonsense lands squarely with a modern audience– from Hamlet and Romeo played as
“bros” sneering at a hatless Viola but embracing a capped Cesario, to a spoof “Sword VPN” advert designed to protect Shakespeare’s quill.
The ensemble (Bradley Stephen Lewis, David Donnelly, Lauren Rowlatt, Jake Burlow and Bianca Tornea) is energetic and funny, slipping between roles with ease. Everyone onstage delivers a strong performance, with Bradley Stephen Lewis and David Donnelly deserving a special mention. Lewis swaggers as a pompous Shakespeare, while Donnelly sparkles in his double turn as Hamlet and Caliban. Strong sound and lighting sharpen the comic beats, paired with writing that’s wittily constructed– though the programme omits their names, the creative team deserves credit.
Overall, (Un)Shakespearean Nightmares is a bold and playful debut for Just Add Salt
Productions (founded by Tornea). Funny, lighthearted, and packed with giggle-worthy
moments, it makes for an infectiously entertaining night out.
(Un)Shakespearean Nightmares is part of the Camden Fringe’s SHAKEFEST. It will be on at the Old Red Lion Theatre until August 17th. You can get your tickets here:
https://camdenfringe.com/events/un-shakespearean-nightmare/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0C
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