A salt and pepper shaker for the king and queen. A ruler for the prince. A spoon for the servant. Lighter fluid for the Innkeeper. A water bottle for the messenger.
Condensed versions of each and every Shakespearean play are comically and lovingly retold, transformed by a “cast” of household objects into 36 intimate and lovingly made miniatures, played out on an everyday table-top. The stories of the plays vividly come to life over six nights, as the act of storytelling and theater itself is celebrated.
5 reasons you won’t want to miss the best Bard this side of Central Park:
- Forced Entertainment’s Complete Works is the first time they’ve approached dramatic literature and the Shakespearean legacy.
- Berlin’s Foreign Affairs Festival commissioned the work in 2015 to mark the 400 anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. It has been performed in London, Berlin, Chicago, Los Angeles.
- You can come to one or all of the performances and mix/match as you please.
- Bring the kids (12 and up) for an irreverant introduction to Shakespeare.
- It’s the perfect chance to get schooled in the lesser canon – King John, anyone?
Forced Entertainment is a U.K.-based theater company founded in 1984. Touring and presenting their ground-breaking, provocative performances across the UK, Europe, and the rest of the world, the group has sustained a unique, collaborative practice for more than thirty years, producing work that explores and often explodes the conventions of genre, narrative and theater itself, drawing influence not just from drama but from dance, performance art, music culture and popular forms such as cabaret and stand-up. forcedentertainment.com
Ticket Special: Buy tickets to 4 different performances for the price of 3! Discount will automatically be applied to your cart during check out.
This piece is recommended for ages 12+
Please note: there will be no late seating.
Performance Schedule:
Day 1 — Tuesday, September 11th
6:30 p.m. — Antony and Cleopatra Cathy Naden
7:30 p.m. — The Merchant of Venice Nicki Hobday
8:30 p.m. — Richard II Terry O’Connor
9:30 p.m. — As You Like It Robin Arthur
Day 2 — Wednesday, September 12th
6:30 p.m. — Taming of the Shrew Nicki Hobday
7:30 p.m. — Henry IV Part 1 Jerry Killick
8:30 p.m. — Henry IV Part 2 Jerry Killick
9:30 p.m. — Much Ado About Nothing Richard Lowdon
Day 3 — Thursday, September 13th
6:30 p.m. — Henry V Nicki Hobday
7:30 p.m. — Pericles Cathy Naden
8:30 p.m. — The Comedy of Errors Terry O’Connor
9:30 p.m. — King Lear Robin Arthur
Day 4 — Friday, September 14th
6:30 p.m. — Henry VI Part1 Richard Lowdon
7:30 p.m. — Henry VI Part 2 Richard Lowdon
8:30 p.m. — Henry VI Part 3 Richard Lowdon
9:30 p.m. — Twelfth Night Jerry Killick
Day 5— Saturday, September 15th
11:00 a.m. — Othello Cathy Naden
12:00 p.m. — Loves Labour’s Lost Robin Arthur
1:00 p.m. — Coriolanus Jerry Killick
2:00 p.m. — The Merry Wives of Windsor Terry O’Connor
3:00 p.m. — Macbeth Richard Lowdon
Break
5:00 p.m. — Richard III Nicki Hobday
6:00 p.m. — Troilus and Cressida Jerry Killick
7:00 p.m. — Julius Caesar Robin Arthur
8:00 p.m. — The Winter’s Tale Cathy Naden
9:00 p.m. — Hamlet Terry O’Connor
Day 6 — Sunday, September 16th
11:00 a.m. — Titus Andronicus Robin Arthur
12:00 p.m. — Cymbeline Terry O’Connor
1:00 p.m. — All’s Well That Ends Well Nicki Hobday
2:00 p.m. — King John Cathy Naden
3:00 p.m. — A Midsummer Night’s Dream Jerry Killick
Break
5:00 p.m. — Romeo and Juliet Terry O’Connor
6:00 p.m. — Timon of Athens Robin Arthur
7:00 p.m. — Measure for Measure Cathy Naden
8:00 p.m. — Two Gentlemen of Verona Nicki Hobday
9:00 p.m. — The Tempest Richard Lowdon
NYU Skirball’s “Serious Fun” family matinee series is made possible in part with generous support from Con Edison for family educational and enrichment programming.
This project is made possible with support from the British Council.
