SPOTLIGHT23/04/16 ISSUE NO.365

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THEATRE // FILM // CULTURE

MAGAZINE

#Shakespeare400

CONTENTS//THEATRE

400th Anniversary of Shakespeare's Death p.3

The Shakespeare Effect p.6

//FILMDeadpool (2016) Review p.11

Hail, Caesar!! Review p.11

//CULTURETheatre and Disability p.14

//David Tennant on his debut

performance as Richard II

p16

//THEATRE

//The Bard of Avon

//This year 2016 marks the 400th anniversary of the death of the world’s most famous playwright.

By Jim Lidster-Browne

On 23rd April, thousands will attend celebratory events across the UK to mark the milestone in British history and culture. They will mark William Shakespeare: the man who wrote, amongst others, the lauded plays Othello, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsum- mer Night’s Dream.

Thespians and tourists alike will gather in Stratford Upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birth- place, to take part in instructive, fun-filled activities to commemorate The Bard of Avon.

The revered David Tennant, who currently stars as Richard II in the RSC’s eponymous production, will host BBC 2’s Shakespeare: Live! From the RSC, which will be broadcast on the day.

Tennant explains, “We've got some of

the biggest classical actors around." Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, and Al Murray are just a few of the esteemed performers involved, all of whom have played their part within the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Tennant added, “It's a variety bill, and the plays are a huge part of that…” The gala will include an array of art forms inspired by Shakespeare, including hip-hop and dance, in an attempt to share how Shakespeare has shaped British cultural heritage. Appearances from English National Opera and Birmingham Royal Ballet are hoped to attract a broad, nation-wide audience.

Artistic Director of the RSC Gregory Doran shared the same sentiment, stating “Shakespeare is for everyone, so we want as many people as possible to have a chance to experience his work this year.”

many people as possible to have a chance to experience his work this year.”

A recent enquiry into the playwright’s final resting place coincided with the 400th an- niversary. Aired on Channel 4 earlier this month, archaeologist Kevin Colls led the first ever investigation into Shakespeare’s tomb. The team revealed that the Bard’s skull had been previously removed from its shallow grave at Holy Trinity Church; a revelation that has led to sordid speculation alongside the academic investigation.

//In action: David Tennant with the skull of the jester, Yorick, in the RSC's Hamlet (2008).

Colls said “The amazing project team, using state-of-the-art equipment, has produced astonishing results which are much better than I dared hoped for, and these results will undoubtedly spark discussion, scholarly debate and controversial theories for years to come. Even now, thinking of the findings sends shivers down my spine.”

The RSC will host celebrations and events including live music, stage fighting work- shops and a finale of fireworks on the big day.

//Buy your tickets for the Stratford-Upon-Avon festivities from: 0844 871 2118

//FEATUREThe Shakespeare Effect

In the lead-up to the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, we discuss views towards The Bard of Avon’s works.

The idea of reading Shakespeare can be a bit daunting.

For many of us, The Bard’s works have been a cause of much distress and disdain.

We may consider his plays ‘boring’, ‘archa- ic’, or ‘outdated’, made tedious by academic study.

If you can relate to this, you are not alone. You stand alongside many others.

Krystie Lee Vandoli wrote an article for BuzzFeed last year, titled ‘Why I Hate Shakespeare’, following the playwright’s 450th birthday. She describes her ‘reluc- tance’ and ‘secret insecurity’ carried since first approaching Shakespeare’s verse. She writes ‘I sifted through the yellow, plastic hardcover book that creaked with each turn of the page... I couldn’t seem to wrap my head around it.’

Or perhaps, in Shakespeare’s words, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks”.

DON'T GIVE UPON OLDE WILL

JUST YET!

As a joint-honours student of Eng- lish Language and Drama and Theatre, I

would suggest that people have spent too much time reading Shakespeare instead of watching and hearing his works performed. Thankfully, over the years, there has been a push to make Shakespeare’s work more accessible, inclusive and community-based.

In September 2014, the coalition government implemented an increase in the number of compulsory Shakespeare plays to be studied by students at school. Sarah Swann, English teach- er at Penistone Grammar School, discussed how much she loves to teach Shakespeare with The Guardian. She advocates use of a ‘Shake- speare Insult Kit’ to kick-start an interest:

//CONTINUED...

‘[The insult kit] is an ancient resource and I’m not sure who originally came up with the idea, but it breaks the imposing nature of the words into the ingredients of a simple sentence (pro- noun+ adjective+ adjective+noun.)...’

You artless, boil-brained baggage is amongst my favourites.

She mentions how her lessons focus on inclu- sivity: ‘For dyslexic students, I always colour code the pronoun, adjectives and noun. Pupils are given five minutes to roam the room to find the missing components to build a suita- bly outrageous insult.’

YOU ARTLESS,BOIL-BRAINED

BAGGAGE

Terry Deary’s popular educational franchise Horrible Histories sets out to engage children in history through a similarly scatological approach. Embracing multiple formats from books to stage shows, Deary published ‘Wicked Words’ 19th July 1996, which includes a chapter appropriately named Superstar Shakespeare. Inside, readers are introduced to watered-down translations of the language and the basics to Shakespeare’s infamous iambic pentameter, alongside hilarious illustrations depicting famous scenes. Described as “history with the nasty bits left in”, Deary’s books are a comical means for youngsters to begin deciphering and appreciating William’s worlds.

Such new and exciting approaches towards Shake- speare’s literature help in making his language more approachable and less intimidating for newcomers. The idea is that this will narrow the divide between high and low cultures, widening the appreciation of The Bard.

//Worth a read: Terry Dear’s Wicked Words

Winchester-based theatre group Apple Theatre hold performances to share Shakespeare’s worlds with audiences, whilst challenging people’s pre- conceptions about disability. Founded by Jane Dessop, mother to one of the performers, the company is comprised of 30 adults with and with- out learning difficulties.

“Last year they toured with Hamlet, using the language of Shakespeare, across 12 major theatres” Jane told The Express. “The performances, with Tommy in the lead role, got standing ovations.”

Blue Apple present fresh adaptations of Shake- speare, digestible by all, advocating ‘high quality performances to the widest possible audiences’.

Challenging preconceptions:

Tommy Jessop as the lead in Hamlet

Shakespeare’s plays are source of entertainment,a crux for education, and an important part of British heritage. There are many ways to approach Shakespeare’s works, and so perhaps its time we faced our fears and revisited his remarkable worlds.

After all, “the course of true love never did run smooth...”

//FILM//FILM//FILM

//REVIEWS

//IN YOUR FACE: GET A LOAD OF DEADPOOL

Shit. Fuck. Cock. These are words you wouldn’t expect to hear watching a Marvel film.

That said, Deadpool is not a typical Marvel film.

Directed by Tim Miller, a newcomer to the world of feature film directing, it’s nice to see a comic-book-based film that doesn’t revolve around a looming apocalypse of some kind. Instead, we bare witness to the origin of Deadpool, the latest badass addition to the cinematic Marvel universe.

Played by Ryan Reynolds, a.k.a. sexiest man alive 2010 (as voted by readers of People Magazine), Deadpool is the raucous renegade known as “Merc with a Mouth”. Reynolds previously starred

in superhero film Green Lantern (2011), which fell on its face receiving negative reviews from established critics and comic book fans alike.

It seems Reynolds has returned to right a wrong, and this time round he doesn’t disappoint; his caffeine-fuelled portrayal of the notorious anti-hero keeps us on our toes as he drops penis jokes and witty quips throughout.

"Please don;t make the supersuit green...

Or animated."

//CONTINUED...

Aware that he is the subject to our entertainment, Deadpool plays the clown, taking moments to speak directly to us, commenting on the various sticky situations he finds himself in. Whilst sawing at one of his limbs in an escape attempt, he asks: “Did you ever see 127 Hours? Spoiler alert!” For most, these remarks prove hilarious, but for those of us behind on films and fads of the 21st century, many references fall flat: a flaw of the film that potentially ex- cludes a large portion of its audience.

Two lesser characters from the X-Men series accompany him: Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Bri- anna Hildebrand), both of whom keep the snarky killer on a leash, though it seems nothing can contain his irrepressible humour.

Though a superficially unique take on the now tedious super- hero genre, it remains a cliche. For a film supposedly pushing our expectations of Marvel’s capabilities, the usual punch-ups and car chases wear thin; the film climaxes with the dramatic demolition of buildings, an element now typical and boring of the franchise.

Considering the smart-mouthed narrative mocks the banality of the genre to which it belongs, there’s nothing new about the excess of CGI fight scenes. I can’t help but feel a little disappointed at Deadpool’s failed attempts at being intellectually self-referential, a feat which Kick Ass and Scott

Pilgrim vs The World pull off so well.

That said, with enough bloodshed to fill several Tarantino mov- ies and some banterous exchanges that left us all peeingwith laughter, Deadpool is forgiven for its few sins in my book. Overall, it makes for a great viewing experience, but perhaps leave the kids at home this time?

“Ahhhh. I’m touching myself tonight”.