The Hampstead Theatre in Swiss Cottage is currently playing host to Edward Hall’s company, Propeller, for productions of Shakespeare’s ‘Henry V’ and ‘The Winter’s Tale’.
Opting for the gentler of the two performances, late last week I visited the theatre to see ‘The Winter’s Tale’. Acts one to three are played out in what appears to be a stainless steel lift lobby, which serves as a sparkling backdrop to this story about the King of Sicilia’s growing paranoia, which ultimately destroys the relationships with his friend, the King of Bohemia, his wife Hermione and his son. The all-male cast took to the play with gusto and conviction – the stand-outs for me were Robert Hands as the twisted and tortured Leontes, and Richard Dempsey who, in a very fetching sheer cocktail dress, played a steely yet gentle Queen Hermione.
In the fourth act things changed up a gear, moving to the countryside as the mood of the play lightened and old wounds were healed. Rock band in tow, Autolycus (Tony Bell) gave a bravura performance, roaring dialogue as he thrust his hips and bared his chest to the audience – a mad fusion of Iggy Pop and Ian Dury. Another treat was the wonderful pairing of John Dougall as the gruff Yorkshire shepherd and his wide-eyed young protege, played by Karl Davies – absolute comedy gold and given a further lift by almost the entire cast dressed as sheep. Never have a group of men dressed in white woolly hats and argyle sweaters, baa-ing on hands and knees, made for a more convincing herd!
Propeller’s production of ‘The Winter’s Tale’ is, frankly, faultless – a visual spectacle not to be missed, played by a very capable cast. It runs in partnership with ‘Henry V’ until 21 July, and you can find tickets at the Hampstead Theatre’s website linked above. Propeller are also supporting the Lifeworks charity with this production – the charity helps children with disabilities to lead full and active lives. Do give generously if you go to see ‘Henry V’, where the cast are providing cabaret entertainment during the interval and shaking a bucket or two…
For those who have never visited it, I should mention that the Hampstead Theatre is a lovely space – the audience in the main theatre are cocooned in a semi-circular auditorium wrapped in wooden slats, with a large foyer beyond and a downstairs space for very intimate performances. It’s a great little theatre with a long and illustrious history dating all the way back to the 1960s – just about every big name from British theatre has trod its boards at one time or another. If you can’t make it to either of Propeller’s Shakesepeare productions, do try to go and see something there soon…
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