As someone who hasn’t read or seen any live Shakespeare in a fair few years, and someone who likes to know what they’re letting themselves in for, I was a little apprehensive to dive straight back in with a play that I had barely any prior knowledge of (or should I say ‘bearly’? Ironically, the infamous “Exit [pursued by a bear]” stage direction was probably the only thing I could conjure up in reference to The Winter’s Tale). I should have feared not, because the Nottingham Shakespeare’s Company production left me in very capable hands. In hindsight, this play was a great was to get back to basics with Shakespeare: the simplicity of the staging and costume really lets the performances shine, and the atmosphere of a candle-lit church setting was a great backdrop for this. Having had experience predominately with Shakespearian tragedies more than anything else, The Winter’s Tale at first seemed a strange amalgamation of different genres. It is comedy, romance, and tragedy all rolled into one, which took some getting used to – I am not used to a final act where hope and reconciliation outweigh misfortune. That’s not to say there wasn’t a lot of familiar ground to tread. Leontes offers a recognisable parallel to Othello’s jealously and paranoia (though Leontes fuels his own downfall without needing his own Iago counterpart to whisper in his ear), and if you’re a fan of the big hits like Romeo and Juliet you’ll be right at home with classic Shakespearean themes of love, loss, and feuding families. This play is a lovely melting pot of all that Shakespeare does best, full of sharp wit and biting soliloquies.
The structure is a little unorthodox too, particularly for what a contemporary audience is used to in their entertainment. Here, the bulk of the tragedy unfolds upfront and is fairly relentless from the start, before we mellow out and enjoy more comedy and hope in the play’s second half. Hermione (Kate-Lynn Du Plessis) and Leontes (Warren Saunders) take the brunt of the drama early on, and had me hooked immediately as Hermione tries to navigate her suddenly precarious position as wife and suspected adulteress – Kate-Lynn plays her Hermione with a great balance of strength and tenderness. For me both were captivating, dragging me eagerly back into the world of Shakespeare and making me feel I was in very safe hands. Warren Saunders gives a fearless performance, always bold and unapologetic in his rage and conviction, but never crossing the line into melodrama. He stole the scenes he was in and really made me miss his presence when Leontes takes more of a back seat after his key scenes in the first few acts. Watching him grapple with Hermione and Paulina (Michelle-Louse Wright) during their heavier scenes were my highlights of the play and stuck with me for days after. The result overall is a production that really honours the players and their dialogue. Without the distractions of an overcrowded set, overly ambitious costuming or excessive choreographing, the performances remain the focal point in a stripped-back setting and are all the more impressive for it. This version of The Winter’s Tale is one that celebrates Shakespeare, goes back to basics, and absolutely nails it.
Review by Katie Wallace – Katie saw this production at St John’s Church Carrington however here are the upcoming shows:
Fri 3rd Feb 2023
The Winter’s Tale – Ruddington
7pm
St Peter’s Church, Ruddington Church Street Ruddington NG11 6HA
Sat Feb 4th 2023
The Winter’s Tale: Free No-Frills Matinee
2pm
Southwell Minster, Church St, Southwell NG25 0HD
Sat 4th Feb 2023
The Winter’s Tale – Southwell Minster
7pm
Southwell Minster Church Street Southwell NG25 0HD
Tickets available from Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shakespeares-the-winters-tale-tickets-484869727407 or go direct to their page here www.nottinghamshakespeare.co.uk/events
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