“A brilliantly entertaining evening and a reminder that Shakespeare doesn’t have to be intimidating to be enjoyable.”
Walking into the Oxford Playhouse for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), I knew I was in for a fast-paced evening, but I was not prepared for quite how much fun it would be. What followed was a hilarious and wonderfully chaotic celebration of Shakespeare that somehow managed to entertain everyone in the room, regardless of their knowledge of the Bard.
The premise is simple: three actors attempt to perform all of Shakespeare’s plays in just over ninety minutes. In practice, it becomes a whirlwind of sketches, audience participation, costume changes and increasingly ridiculous theatrical inventions. The result is a show that feels completely unpredictable while remaining impressively tight and controlled.
The performances are what make the production soar. Efé Agwele, Woogie Jung and Tom Pavey are superb throughout, displaying remarkable energy, precision and comic timing. Their chemistry is undeniable, with each performer bouncing effortlessly off the others as they race through Shakespeare’s catalogue. What impressed me most was how clear everything remained despite the relentless pace. Whether delivering rapid-fire dialogue or switching between characters, they never lost the audience.
The audience interaction was equally well judged. Participation can sometimes feel awkward or forced, but here it was woven naturally into the show. A particular highlight came during an attempt to help “Bob”, a randomly selected audience member, understand the psyche of Ophelia. The cast handled the moment brilliantly, creating one of many laugh-out-loud sequences that had the entire theatre invested.
What makes the production particularly successful is its accessibility. This is not a show solely for Shakespeare enthusiasts. In fact, one of its greatest strengths is how effectively it welcomes audiences regardless of their experience. Whether you know every line of Hamlet or couldn’t tell your Macbeth from your Midsummer, there is something here for everyone. Judging by the reactions around me, from children to long-time theatre-goers, the humour landed across the board.
The production embraces a minimal set, allowing props, costumes and performances to do the heavy lifting. It is a simple approach, but an effective one. Every visual gag is carefully considered, and the constant stream of costume pieces and theatrical tricks helps maintain the show’s infectious momentum.
Among the many highlights, the Macbeth sequence performed in “traditional dialect” was inspired, while the backwards retelling of Hamlet was an absolute triumph. Both perfectly captured the show’s ability to be clever, ridiculous and surprisingly educational all at once.
Most importantly, the theatre was filled with laughter from beginning to end. The audience’s willingness to participate and the cast’s complete command of the room created an atmosphere of shared joy that is increasingly rare.
Overall, this was a brilliantly entertaining evening and a reminder that Shakespeare doesn’t have to be intimidating to be enjoyable. If you can catch it at one of its few remaining tour stops, do. And, as the Reduced Shakespeare Company would say, “Nunnery a to thee get.”