Tom Dixon, a founding member of the UK-based theatre company The Handlebards, believes that the world is a crazy place at the moment. “So a seriously silly Shakespeare show is often the perfect tonic for people to laugh and have fun with us for a couple of hours,” he explains, going on to add: “I think people really appreciate it, which is why they are so kind to us.”
This summer, two troupes of actors from The Handlebards — one all-male and the other all-female — cycled across the UK, performing the bard’s The Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet , respectively. Now, the company’s romantic drama comes to Chennai, where it will be presented by city-based theatre company Crea-Shakthi. Dixon promises that this version of the play , despite being a tragedy, will elicit riotous laughter.
Bicycle diaries
Whenever The Handlebards stage a play for the first time, they cycle across the country, averaging around 30 miles a day. “This ultimately helps shape the show, as we are limited to carrying what we can fit on the back of our bikes,” he explains. “We have a lot of stories from our times cycling around the UK, mostly stories of the kindness of strangers.”
En route, the actors perform in public spaces to local audiences, often foregoing proscenium theatres in favour of wide open spaces where the only lighting is sunlight. Bringing a similar aesthetic to Chennai, the company promises a simple yet irrevent interpretation of the world’s most famous romantic tragedy. “Props are a big part of our show (just wait until you see Juliet’s balcony). If you like your Shakespeare served with clowning, singing, and laughing this is definitely the play for you,” he adds.
If you are looking for critical dialogue with a side of humour, this play might please you. The cast will address topics such as masculinity and what it means to be a man by poking fun at gender stereotypes. The production, which turns theatrical tradition on its head, has already won favour among international audiences. “Two years ago, we took Romeo and Juliet to Sudan, and were the first ever company to perform an all-female show in the country,” shares Dixon.
We should all be feminists
Performed by four female actors who play all the parts, provide musical accompaniment (with a ukulele and a glockenspiel), sing and dance, Romeo and Juliet has a fast-paced, high-octane energy from the minute it starts. Even in its most unadulterated form, and despite being labelled a tragedy, the play has potential for humorous moments, especially in the first half. When things become darker, Dixon and his colleagues prefer to look for comedy in impossible places.
“To us, Shakespeare is much better enjoyed when it is treated as a shared experience with the audience,” explains Dixon. “We want you to be fully immersed in our story, but we never want you to forget that we are just four storytellers, and that we can laugh when things go wrong and we can engage with you directly. So we’ll come out into the crowd, speak to you directly and sometimes pull you up on stage!”
Romeo and Juliet will be staged at Rani Seethai Hall on October 2 at 7 pm. For tickets, visit bookmyshow.com.
