Speaketh for the Bard!

They’re bringing a twist to the classics. Yes, they’re doing Shakespeare a bit differently. The HandleBards, a travelling award winning UK Theatre Company that presents Shakespeare’s works in a visually fast paced and a textually rigorous manner, will stage a series of ribtickling and catchy plays this weekend. The versatile band of four British actors – Callum Machintosh, Tom Dixon, Callum Brodie, Paul Moss and Matthew Seager promise to leave the audience in hysteria with their ribtickling humour as they play 40 characters.

Paul Moss explains, “We stay true to the original text, but add our own flair. The characters may not be presented as you’ve seen them before! A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Hamlet are our most popular shows and have lots of comedy. Even if the play is a tragedy and requires lots of audience participation.”

Described by Sir Ian McKellen as ‘uproariously funny’, the HandleBards will be back on their bikes with a diverse set and will leave you screeching for more. Ask them what the audience can expect from the shows this weekend and Paul states, “To laugh a lot! The shows are always a little different from night to night, as every audience is different. We always make sure we’re having fun on stage and the audience has fun along with us. We base all our sets, props and costumes around the theme of cycling and camping. Our set is built from old tents, and costumes and props on a bike!”

Paul who formed the company three years ago, with a group of friends who wanted an adventure reveals, “We all studied different subjects in different universities in the UK – some sciences, some drama, some circus and had always loved the performing arts. We wanted to use our skills in the arts and see the world while we did it, so cycling around the UK was just the first step. We are now like a group of brothers as we have spent so much time with each other. We did sold out shows in Zimbabwe and ran it at an international arts festival. One of our most memorable was Macbeth on the top of Dunsinnan Hill (where the play is set) and we had to carry our bikes and set up a steep slope to get there.”

Watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream on January 16, 8 pm and January 17, 3 pm and 6:30 pm at Jagriti Theatre, Whitefield.