Shakespeare Live

David Tennant as Richard II; photo by Kwame Lestrade 

Name a brilliant Great British actor. Dame Helen Mirren. And? Sir Ian McKellan. David Suchet. Dame Judi Dench. Simon Russell Beale. Keep going. David Tennant. Benedict Cumberbatch. Catherine Tate. Anne-Marie Duff. Rory Kinnear. Meera Syal. Roger Allam. Anthony Sher … What are best lines ever written in English? Something by Shakespeare, obviously.

Imagine all those actors (and more) reciting the most beloved speeches from Shakespeare, as well as a whole pile of other performances inspired by his work: ballet, opera, jazz, sketch and song – and you’ve got the Royal Shakespeare Company’s celebration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s life and death, a bonanza Shakespeare-inspired variety show. Wow. Whose idea was this? Gregory Doran, Artistic Director of the RSC. It was broadcast live on BBC 2 in the UK but we get to see it on film. 

What are the best bits? Harriet Walter as Cleopatra. Simon Russell Beale performing ‘This sceptred isle’ from Richard II in the ruins of Kenilworth Castle – wonderful. Alex Hassell’s wooing scene from Henry V. How about The Pub Landlord, Al Murray, as Bottom to Judi Dench’s Titania?  No! Does that work? Bizarrely, yes. There’s a memorable ‘To Be or Not to Be’ sketch where Tim Minchin – Tim Minchin? Yes, he directs the RSC’s current Hamlet, Paapa Essiedu, as to which one of those words in that line to stress, and eminent actors who’ve played Hamlet wander on stage and offer advice. Who gets the last word? Someone rather elevated in society.  

As well you get archival footage of Japanese and African Shakespeare, hip hop Shakespeare from Akala, a silly sketch from Horrible Histories, there’s a bit from West Side Story and a bit of Romeo and Juliet in ballet and in performance (by Natey Jones and Mariah Gale), opera from Berlioz, jazz from Duke Ellington, a choreography of Othello, Ian McKellen delivering an intense speech from Sir Thomas More about asylum seekers… It goes on and on. Ever wondered what happened to Alison Moyet? Yeah. She’s in it, singing her version of the ‘Sigh No More’ sonnet. So is Rufus Wainwright, singing ‘Sonnet 29’, and also that American actor John Lithgow, doing Malvolio.

Anything you didn’t like? Wasn’t moved by the Cole Porter segment, Brush up Your Shakespeare, from Kiss Me Kate. Terrific song but the duet performance (by Henry Goodman and Rufus Hound) went on too long. Unnecessary changes of tuxedo jackets.

Been to Stratford Upon Avon? No. Between the performances on stage you get a rather earnest guided tour by Joseph Fiennes, which includes Anne Hathaways’ house and the house Shakespeare was born in, and enough of his background for anyone new to Shakespeare to appreciate the rest of it.

That’s a hell of a lot in one show! Yes; purists might say it’s too much, and will complain about the unashamedly crowd-pleasing something-for-everyone approach to the whole shebang, but you can’t imagine the Bard himself having a problem with that. Shakespeare Live is hosted by Catherine Tate and David Tennant. David Tennant? Nice. If you love your Shakespeare delivered by the best, and don’t mind it in wide-ranging bits, what more could you want? Fireworks. It’s got fireworks. Where can I see it?

In selected cinemas opening this Friday, 6 May. How many stars? Untold!