Playwright-themed fun

ALL the world's a stage...(L-R) Oldham Theatre Workshop performers Beth Gillard, Leanne Maher, Ella Lovelady, James Butler and Nathan Horrocks.

OLDHAM lived up to one of Shakespeare’s most famous lines as the town centre was transported back to Elizabethan times to mark 400 years since the playwright’s death on Saturday.

Taking inspiration from the often quoted line “all the world’s a stage”, actors from Oldham Theatre Workshop toured the town centre and wowed audiences with their inventive and fun versions of scenes from William Shakespeare’s plays.

The talented performers ­– nicknamed the Royton Shakespeare Collective, Oldham’s own version of the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) ­– performed on the town centre streets and at Oldham Library.

Balcony

The performers, aged between 16 and 22, took on some of the Bard’s most famous scenes from a new perspective, including showcasing the star-crossed love between a giant banana and strawberry in their comedic version of the balcony scene from “Romeo and Juliet”.

Other scenes asked for audience participation, with seven-year-old Huriyah Amin given the chance to join in and cackle along with her fellow witches in “Macbeth” while her brother Faakhir (8) enjoyed a taste of being a Royal.

Huriyah’s mum, Fazzia Islam, said: “We had just come into the library when we spotted the actors and thought we’d see what was going on.

“The show was very entertaining and it was great that the children were able to get involved.

“They really enjoyed it and had huge smiles on their faces.

“It was a great way to introduce them to Shakespeare.”

Faakhir added: “I really enjoyed being part of it and watching the show.

“It was very funny and I’d like to learn more about Shakespeare.”

The youngsters were also able to join in the fun by dressing as their favourite Shakespeare character and take pictures with some of the famous lines from Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets.

Craig Harris, Applied Theatre Practitioner at Oldham Theatre Workshop, said: “It’s important that we continue to remember Shakespeare’s contribution as he is such a large part of our history.

“His influence is seen every day in film, television and on the stage.

“Some of his language and phrases are still used today, although not many people know that it was Shakespeare who created them.

“We wanted to perform our own versions of his plays and give people something fun to enjoy on a Saturday as Shakespeare’s plays were designed as entertainment after all.”

To find out more about Oldham Theatre Workshop visit www.oldhamtheatreworkshop.co.uk.