About Shake-scene Shakespeare
Shakespeare is for EVERYONE
We have been building our reputation for unique theatre performance and exciting workshops since 2017, and are entering a very exciting phase in our development - when we would love you to be a part of.
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As the only production company in the UK currently working from original Renaissance-style cue-based texts, with our actors never rehearsing together before first performance, our work is making an unique contribution to 21st century theatre.
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Our unique approach creates our trademark spontaneity, which appeals to all audiences - traditional theatre-goers and those less familiar with Shakespeare – from young children to grandparents, and from all walks of life.
Performing in shared light environments opens our indoor productions to all: all our performances are “relaxed”.
Our street theatre engages directly with people passing by, drawing them into our fictional world in the middle of everyday reality.
As a female-lead company, Shake-Scene openly embrace diversity and inclusivity in all our performers, and are committed to equality of opportunity across genders, age-groups, abilities and ethnicities.
This makes our work radically interesting, as our contemporary casting melds with our original practice productions, creating something new from the best of old and new practices.
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Acting from cues injects fresh and vibrant life into familiar and unfamiliar classical texts. Our performances provide unique live theatre experiences.
What is Cue-Based Acting ?
Cue-based acting first blew my mind on reading Patrick Tucker’s unique book The Secrets of Acting Shakespeare. Tucker’s experiences fired her imagination, and lead to experimental workshops and performances, further reading, and more workshops and productions, until it grew into Shake-Scene Shakespeare. With Shake-Scene, I have staged full cue-based productions of Merchant of Venice, As You Like It and Taming of the Shrew, plus a one-hour version of Romeo and Juliet.
Performing from "cues only" is such a unique form of theatre, and the actors who take part produce such wonderful spontaneous, brave and inspiring portrayals, with surprising subtly and insight, that I am eternally grateful to the amazing actors who join my workshops and come back again and again for more cue-based adventures!
Elements of cue-based performance have also now inspired me to formalise part of my work in a practice-led PhD at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon, which work is still developing.