Shakespeare's Globe to Globe Season 2012

May was theatre month and The Globe Theatre was staging each of Shakespeare's 37 plays, each one in a different language.  So I thought I would indulge in a little light Shakespeare!

I started with "Othello" - the hip hop version from the Chicago - the Q Brothers (there were 4 of them) performed a cutdown of the play with minimal props, a soundtrack, Desdemona played in via the sound system and a sell out audience.

Then it was the turn of "The Tempest" in Bangla,performed by the Dhaka Theatre company and featuring many people that I know from working in Bangladesh.

The Tempest - Dhaka Theatre - May 2012

The blurb on the Globe's website said

"From a land constantly troubled by water, enter Shakespeare’s mariners, wet and speaking Bangla. As well as pioneering new Bangladeshi drama, the Dhaka Theatre, Bangladesh’s most prominent theatre group, has staged The Merchant of Venice and Brecht’s The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui. Often called Bengali, Bangla is one of London’s most widely spoken languages.

The production is a unique combination of Manipuri folk dance from Bangladesh along with traditional Bangladeshi folk songs. Starring Shimul Yousuf as Ariel, Shahiduzzaman Selim as Alonso and Kamal Bayzid as Stefano; and introducing Rubol Noor Lodi as Prospero and Esha Yousuf as Miranda. Directed by Dhaka Theatre founder and Ekusheh Padak award recipient, Nasir Uddin Yousuff."

The "Bishaash" team went on the first night - and Liz, Donny and I had front row (circle) seats for the evening.  Waris, Zeeshaan and their family were there along with Rayhan and Nasfim.  Esha said that she could see our faces in the crowd - which was probably very offputting!  The theatre was full and the atmosphere brilliant.  Afterwards we had an emotional reunion with the cast.  I do have a recording of the applause at the end - over 2 minutes of cheering and shouting and a standing ovation.  I'll add this to the blog when I can manage to encode it ....

The second night was the "MMS" team - and Louise and family went along with Michelle and Clem and partied with the team afterwards.  I saw both nights - which was great - watched the confidence as the group enjoyed themselves on the stage.  Again - massive ovation.

I did manage to catch up with Esha and Imogen before Esha went back to Dhaka.  We had a sunny afternoon walking around Covent Garden and looking at the sights accompanied by cups of coffee and drinks on the balcony of the Royal Festival Hall overlooking the Thames. 

And then it was the turn of "Romeo and Juliet" in Brazilian.  This time I was accompanied by Vivi (flatmate) and her friend Alice - who are both Brazilian.  It was a rather surreal performance, a car on stage, the Nurse was a cross between Roy Barraclough and Les Dawson and there was a fabulous atmosphere.  It was definitely more pantomime than I've ever seen before!  

Or as the Globe put it 

"Perhaps the Americas’ most famous production of the most famous play ever, Grupo Galpão’s carnivalesque Romeo and Juliet returns to the Globe with its thrilling mix of circus, music, dance and Brazilian folk culture. The only festival participants to have played at Shakespeare’s Globe before, they bring the promise of a cavalcade of passion."

Afterwards you can wander down to the yard and mingle with the cast and Vivi and Alice had their photos taken.     

Vivi, Brazilian actress, Alice

Brazilian actor with Vivi

And then my Shakespearean viewing was completed with "Coriolanus" in Japanese.  Now this was a little ambitious (!) on my part.  I don't know the play and can speak about 4 words of Japanese (sushi, kiku, kamikaze, hari-kari - running out now).  Their interpretation was minimalist - and there were moments when I was definitely bored and others when I was completely mesmerised.  But it was the point of the season - experience new interpretations of these plays.    

Finally, "Bishaash" transmitted on television in Cambodia - it's second international screening (after the UK).

Yours - very very full of drama -

Maryx