Measure for Measure, translated and directed by Jack Nieborg, Shakespeare Theater Diever, The Netherlands, 7 September 2019. Review by Paul Franssen (Utrecht University) As usual in Diever, the auditorium was split in two by the narrow central stage. Spectators were faced with the one-dimensional outline of a row of houses in the middle, and churches […]
King Lear, dir. & libretto by Joke Hoolboom. Holland Opera, Jong Nederlands Blazers Ensemble and “155” dance group. Utrecht, Fort Rijnauwen, 12 July 2019. Review by Paul Franssen (Utrecht University) Holland Opera, formerly known as Xynix, has a long history of musical adaptations of Shakespeare, particularly for the young, including children’s versions of Romeo and […]
King Lear, translated and directed by Jack Nieborg, Shakespeare Theater Diever, The Netherlands, 8 September 2018. Reviewed by by Paul Franssen (Utrecht University) This year, the Diever amateur theatre had chosen King Lear for their annual production. In line with some other recent stage adaptations of Shakespeare plays, the tragedy was set in the world of […]
Othello, dir. Daria Bukvic. Tr. Esther Duysker. Het Nationale Theater. Utrecht, Podium Hoge Woerd, 24 February 2018. Review by Paul Franssen (Utrecht University) Few recent Dutch Shakespeare productions have come in for more advance publicity than this Othello. Indeed, it was a remarkable production. For director Daria Bukvic, the central issue of Othello was race: […]
King Lear, Het Zuidelijk Toneel and het Paleis, directed by Simon de Vos. Utrecht, Stadsschouwburg, 2 February 2018. Review by Paul Franssen (Utrecht University) Like other recent Shakespeare adaptations in the Low Countries, such as Tom Lanoye’s Queen Lear and his Hamlet vs. Hamlet, this production treated the original very freely, changing many features to […]
Julius Caesar, dir. Michiel de Regt. Performance: Orkater. Music: K.O. Brass! Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, 2 December 2017. Reviewed by Paul Franssen (Utrecht University). Like many productions of Julius Caesar nowadays, Orkater’s staging transposed the action to the modern age. No togas, therefore, but modern dress, and modern instruments too: for this production replaced much of the […]
Hamlet. Abbatoir Fermé. Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, 5 November 2017 Reviewed by Paul Franssen (Utrecht University) Among the first intelligible words that Hamlet utters in this production is his speech on man, the “paragon of animals,” which yet “delights not [him].” Hamlet’s doubts about human nature seem to be confirmed throughout, more than the more optimistic view […]
The Taming of the Shrew, translated and directed by Jack Nieborg, Shakespeare Theater Diever, The Netherlands, 26 August 2017. Reviewed by Paul Franssen, Utrecht University The annual open-air Shakespeare production at Diever, staged by amateurs, seems to be drawing bigger crowds every year. This year’s production of The Taming of the Shrew makes it clear why: […]
Lady M, written by Annechien Koerselman, Annemarie de Bruijn, David Geysen and Radna Diels. English translation by Marlous Lang-Peterse. Performance by Annemarie de Bruijn, het Vijfde Bedrijf. Koninklijke Schouwburg, The Hague, 26 November 2016 Review by Paul Franssen (Utrecht University) The sound of bagpipes evokes a sense of place. A young woman, with […]
Richard III, translated and directed by Jack Nieborg, Shakespeare Theater Diever, The Netherlands, 3 September 2016 Reviewed by Paul Franssen (Utrecht University) This year, the venerable Diever Shakespeare festival celebrated its 70th anniversary. Ever since the Second World War, this village in the North of the Netherlands has staged a Shakespeare production during the summer […]
