Alex Norcott and the team at Exi Attica have created a show that is quintessentially Fringe and unashamedly Shakespeare. The wonderfully expressive young actors from Falkirk take on the roles of four-year-olds who have been cursed by the spirit of Shakespeare after they spoil his work. And the bulk of the show pays reference to Shakespeare's most popular works through both quotes and language.
A show that is quintessentially Fringe and unashamedly Shakespeare
The show begins with wonderful chaos and noise as the actors storm on stage in full character and enter the nursery. Jessica Ashworth carries much of the first five minutes of the show with a charming performance of a very stressed Nanny. It is then the rest of the cast who must take over as the children take centre stage and become Shakespeare's modern mouthpiece. Each performer did an exceptional job of portraying Shakespeare's words in a modern setting. It was clear that these young actors knew the meaning and intent of every sentence they uttered, which is no mean feat when taking on Shakespeare. They also managed to convey the childlike quirks in these 500-year-old lines.
The staging of the show was well done and used the space they had efficiently, however it must be noted that some of the action took place on the floor, which was difficult to see when not in the first row. Overall, however, the vocal performances on stage more than made up for what sometimes was lost to the eyes.
The writing and story was clear from Alex Norcott and it was a wonderful base for the young actors and creatives to work off of. It is a show that has clearly been formed for the Fringe with a love for what the Fringe can offer to local creatives. One thing that must be noted is the very Scottish dialect, tone, and humour that runs through this entire piece, which is surprisingly rare at the festival and lovely to see here.
