Twelfth Night, 3 Stars

Twelfth Night
Touring East London Parks
16th June to 7th August 2022

“There’s an 80s party going on all summer long, with the cast announced for East London Shakespeare Festival (ELSF)’s rip-roaring take on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. This new production provides summer fun for all the family, with an opportunity like no other forcompleteescapism in picturesque outdoor settings.”

Review by Richard Lambert

Travelling to Walthamstowe can feel like you’re going to the end of the line, however, a short walk to the Fellowship Square and Fountains will be well worth it. The venue is stunning!

Most of the audience brought a picnic, fold-out chairs and children. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the children were fully engaged in the production and not finding other means to amuse themselves. Scott le Crass’ direction was hammy enough and sufficiently over the top that even if the story wasn’t so clear the acting maintained interest.

With a couple of 80’s songs thrown in for good measure I left humming “Come on Eileen” while the children played in the musical colourful fountains.

Community theatre is meant to engage and bring new audiences and this one seems to have done just that!

Perhaps Walthamstowe is the new Glyndebourne? This is the 2nd year of the East London Shakespeare Festival bringing Theatre into the Community at affordable prices! Where else can you take the family out for a few squid?

CREATIVES:

Director Scott Le Crass
Designer George Alexander
Movement Director Julia Cave
Original Music Amir Shoenfeld
Producers Ursula Early & Rosie Ward

CAST:

Paul Carroll
Aaron Douglas
Ursula Early
Philip Honeywell
Arysha Kelly
Hassan Maarfi
Kate Thomson Rahmanian
Alasdair Saksena
Francesca (Frankie)
Alemitu Bertoletti

SOCIAL MEDIA:

@EastLondonShak1 (Twitter), @eastlondonshakespearefestival (Facebook), #EastLondonShakespeareFestival, #OutdoorShakespeare, #ELSFTwelfthNight, #WFCulture, #HelloAgainHackney

VENUES AND DATES:

PREVIEWS 16 -19 June at Higham Hill Hub, E17

23-26 June at Fellowship Square, E17

01-03 July at Wanstead Park, E11

07-10 July at Leyton Jubilee Park, E10

15-17 July at Hoxton Community Gardens, N1

22-24 July at Highams Park, IG8

27-29 July at Clissold Park, N16

05-07 Aug at Springfield Park, E5

Tickets available from http://www.elsf.uk/copy-of-twelfth-night