Performed by Hand In Hand Theatre Company
St George’s Hall
11th August 2016

Review by Colin Serjent

This is an affectionate and humourous tribute to the Bard. The Wirral-based Hand In Hand Theatre Company performed the multi-award winning show RIP Mr Shakespeare for the final time.

Shakespeare is on his deathbed as twenty of his plays are intertwined amid contemporary interpretations of his text and a multitude of clowns, all wearing spectacular and brightly coloured costumes, enact bizarre displays relating to particular plays.

He sometimes whinges at their treatment of his sacred words. I was notably amused at the verbal interaction between ‘The Servant’, who Shakespeare had not given a name to in his writings. The Servant sometimes quoted one of his famous phrases but Shakespeare uttered “I said that”, but The Servant replied “No, I said it”. Meaning that he had just voiced the quote!

The recorded music used, which was a fascinating mix, added colour to the feelgood factor present throughout.