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| Tom Cullen (William Shakespeare) - Asha Forno (Viola de Lesseps) and company in "Shakespeare in Love". |
Adapted by Lee Hall from the original screenplay by Tom Stoppard & Marc Norman
Direction, Choreography, Set and Sound design by Chris
Baldock
Assistant Director: Zac Bridgman- Lighting Design by Rhiley
Winnett and Chris Baldock.
Costumes by Maya Hadfield, Sian Harrington, Liz St Clair
Long.
Stage management by Lottie Leahy – Intimacy co-ordination by
Steph Evans.
Belconnen Arts Centre: 11th – 28th February
2026.
Opening night performance on 11th February
reviewed by BILL STEPHENS
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| Some of the company of Mockingbird Theatre's production of "Shakespeare in Love" |
Having spent 2025 cementing his company, Mockingbird Theatre,
into the Belconnen Arts Centre as its resident theatre company with an
attention-grabbing program of productions which have won himself and his
company numerous awards during the year, Chris Baldock has chosen Shakespeare
in Love for his first production for 2026.
The play is a witty adaptation by Lee Hall of the original
screenplay written by Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman for the Academy Award winning
film of the same name.
The plot revolves around an imagining of a fictional love
affair between playwright, William Shakespeare, and a noblewoman, Viola de Lesseps,
during a period when Shakespeare supposedly suffered writer’s block during the
writing of Romeo and Juliet.
The play is set in 1593, and involves characters based on
historical figures, among them Christopher Marlowe, Lord Wessex, Richard Burbage,
Lord Edmund Tilney and Queen Elizabeth 1. The plot also incorporates many of
the characters, lines and plot devices that turn up in Shakespeare’s plays.
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| Sachin Nayak (Lord Edmund Tilney) - Anto Hermida (Henslowe)- Bruce Hardie (Lord Wessex) in "Shakespeare in Love" |
Given the size of the Studio Theatre at the Belconnen Arts Centre, the idea of presenting such a sprawling play in this confined environment was no doubt an intriguing challenge for Baldock to set himself.
So, drawing on the abilities of no fewer than 23 actors of wildly
varying abilities, a mixture of experienced senior actors and students from his
acting classes, he has applied his celebrated directorial skills and ingenuity to
producing a sometimes challenging, but very watchable entertainment.
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| Tom Cullen (William Shakespeare) - Asha Forno (Viola de Lesseps) in "Shakespeare in Love". |
Heading the cast as Will Shakespeare and the object of his affections, Viola de Lesseps, Tom Cullen and Asha Forno are a delightful pairing, easily believable as the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, whose story, their own appears to duplicate.
James Phillips is
also well cast as Shakespeare’s friend and confidant, Kit Marlowe, who, if you
believe this play, deserves more recognition for his contribution to Romeo
and Juliet, than previously recognised.
Strong performances from Sian Harrington (Nurse), Bruce
Hardie (Lord Wessex), Richard Manning (Richard Burbage), Anto Hermida (Henslowe),
Sachin Nayak (Lord Edmund Tilney) and particularly Liz St Clair Long who
dominates every scene in which she appears as the imperious Queen Elizabeth 1, all
add gravitas to the proceedings.
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| Liz St Clair Long as Queen Elizabeth 1 in "Mockingbird Theatre's production of "Shakespeare in Love". |
But despite the enthusiasm of the large cast, the variance in stagecraft among the rest of the cast becomes a distraction to the success of the storytelling.
Baldock’s attractive setting, while appropriate, even
evocative, also proved a hindrance to keeping abreast with changes in timelines
and locales. Having only two points of access compromised exits and entrances.
Similarly with the costumes. Adhering to the Bridgeton aesthetic
of eschewing historical accuracy for appearance, many costumes were quite splendid.
But when worn besides others that looked very ‘make do’, exampled by the
extraordinarily unconvincing disguise for Forno as Thomas Kent, not only was the
effect of opulence dissipated but also, any semblance of a consistent overall vision.
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| Asha Forno (Thomas Kent) - Sian Harrington (Nurse) in "Shakespeare in Love". |
Also, while it is accepted, that in Shakespeare’s day, male actors performed the female characters, it’s hard to imagine bearded actors being cast in these roles.
There is much to be enjoyed with this production; especially
its audacity, the exuberance of its cast, and the obvious talent and skill that
has been lavished on it by its cast and creatives. However, when compared to the
award-winning standard set by Mockingbird Theatre with its 2025 program, the
end result rarely rises above that of a good student production.
However, when considering the huge restrictions placed on the concept by the size of the Studio Theatre, perhaps preventing the style, polish and attention to detail usually associated with a Baldock production, given its entertainment potential, perhaps the Belconnen Arts Centre could consider a Main Stage revival of this production to allow it to be enjoyed by the wider audience it deserves.
Photos by Chris Baldock
