An all new ES Culham production. Very much a pre-election play; ever true for our lives today. Six ambitious Drama students have worked hard since last September to adapt Shakespeare's dramatical display of politics: Weak leadership, hypocrisy and a mentaliy of selfservice. The orginal text was severely shortened and very gently modernised. The music by Martin Gellner was exclusively composed for this production.
Admission £3 / £5
Time approx. 7.30 - 9.30pm, interval after 3rd act
Music by Martin Gellner, Y6
Cast: Aurore Lacote (Isabella), Patrick Rhodius (Duke), Carolein Hecht (Angelo), Sofian Scott (Lucio, Warrant), Anna Steiner (Mistress Overdone, Juliet, Claudio, Mariana), Vincent Crans (Provost)
Bob Read (Voice of Escalus)
Directed by Martin Steen-Tolle
"Shakespeare's complex comedy is very much a play for today: not least because of its emphasis on political corruption and the phoney facades of people in high places." www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2010/feb/19/measure-for-measure-review
Vincentio, the Duke of Vienna, makes it known that he intends to leave the city on a diplomatic mission. He leaves the government in the hands of a strict judge, Angelo. Under the Duke's government, the city's harsh laws against fornication have been laxly enforced, but Angelo, who later reveals himself as a hypocrite, is known to be a hard-liner on matters of sexual immorality. Claudio, a young nobleman, is engaged with Juliet and makes her pregnant. For this act of fornication he is punished by Angelo. Although he is willing to marry her, he is sentenced to death. Claudio's friend Lucio visits Claudio's sister Isabella, a postulant nun, and asks her to intercede with Angelo on Claudio's behalf.
This is the starting point in Shakespeare's political drama, written in 1603/4, which reveals in its course some behaviour of the powerful which appears not unfamiliar even in the 21st century.
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