April 25, 2010
The set-up: the Lord Chamberlain’s Men at the Globe have been persuaded to put on an old Shakespeare play, Richard II, by Robin, the Earl of Essex, and his fixer, Harry, the Earl of Southampton. Why? Because Essex thinks a timely play about regicide might just help to galvanise the rabble into rising up against the rapidly aging Queen Elizabeth. On the other side of the conflict we have Sir Robert Cecil, the Queen’s creepy Secretary of State, who would really like to see Essex hang. Essex says he that he really wants to support Elizabeth by replacing Cecil and certain other hangers-on, but perhaps Essex would be King himself? So the playwright-in-the-middle, our very own Will Shakespeare, is torn in two, trying to prevent being quartered, in addition to hanging and drawing. Managing the conflict is the nub of the show.
This is a new play, written by Robert Cohen, who also skilfully plays the Bard in this Pitchfork Production, directed by Ian Flintoff. Most of the other parts were taken by enthusiastic members of the Oxford Actors’ Network. Tim Goldman, as Essex, stood out for me, and it was good to see Thomas Bewley (as Cecil) back at the BT. Propaganda was billed as a ‘work in progress’, in preparation for Shakespeare United 2012, a nationwide Shakespeare celebration being planned for the year of the Olympics. It certainly needs further polishing, but it has the makings of an interesting drama, and I look forward to seeing the final version.
This is a new play, written by Robert Cohen, who also skilfully plays the Bard in this Pitchfork Production, directed by Ian Flintoff. Most of the other parts were taken by enthusiastic members of the Oxford Actors’ Network. Tim Goldman, as Essex, stood out for me, and it was good to see Thomas Bewley (as Cecil) back at the BT. Propaganda was billed as a ‘work in progress’, in preparation for Shakespeare United 2012, a nationwide Shakespeare celebration being planned for the year of the Olympics. It certainly needs further polishing, but it has the makings of an interesting drama, and I look forward to seeing the final version.