Shakespeare North Playhouse - Lear
Ange Seddon visited Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescott for an all-female & non-binary production of LEAR
Last week we were invited to the Shakespeare North Playhouse and I have been wanting to come here since it opened less than a year ago. It’s a delight to have a venue like this here in the North West. This regeneration project has injected a much needed shot in the arm for the town of Prescot, inviting further investment into the area. The Cockpit Theatre, based on the Globe, is the heart of this contemporary building providing culture, education and a community hub for those wanting to enjoy the theatre. You can almost smell the sawdust and oak of the theatres' construction as you sit.
But there is so much more going on here than just Shakespeare. There’s music, comedy, workshops, and art that are all accessible thanks to their introduction of ‘pay what you decide/PWYD’ tickets. There are a limited number of these at events throughout the venue, but they believe that ‘everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the magic of the performances and events, without worrying about costs'.
On-site they have a gift shop and a cafe/bar that provides snacks, light lunches and pre-theatre bites as well as drinks both before and at the interval of the performances. There are a growing number of places nearby where you can enjoy a pre-theatre meal. Pinion, a bistro from the diminutive, yet creative star that is Gary Usher and his Elite Bistros group, would be my choice (their truffle and Parmesan chips alone make the place worth a visit).
Onto the play itself. Lear, an all-female and non-binary production from the Unseemly Women and Girl Gang Manchester companies. It’s not unprecedented to have a female play the titular role of Lear, our recently departed and national treasure Glenda Jackson took on the role at the age of 80. I digress, our Lear was played by Coronation Street’s Christine Mackie. This play is a tragedy telling the downfall of a king through inter-generational power dynamics into destitution and insanity due to Shakespeare’s cleverly written political machinations. Bit of a mouthful I grant you, I have always felt that no matter how complicated the plot, acted well, a Shakespeare play is a joy to behold. Christine Mackie was captivating as Lear, showing the king to be arrogant and entitled, betrayed, then descending into being vulnerable, insane and ultimately his grief-stricken death. She brought great passion to the role. My other stand-out performances were Haylie Jones as the Machiavellian Edmund, the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester, conniving to dispose of his older half-brother Edgar, played equally well by Alice Procter. Their characters sub plot seeped seamlessly into the main drama, but Haylie Jones stole scene after scene. Also, there was a clever twist where a red stiletto was used by Cornwall to gouge out Gloucester’s eyes, in one of Shakespeare’s more gruesome scenes.
You have to concentrate on who’s playing the male and female roles as the inconsistency in costume didn’t always clarify (though I imagine, in Shakespeare’s day, where women were not allowed to be in any part of the production, the all-male troupe may have had a similar issue). The strength of performances overall made this an eminently, watchable, entertaining and emotional play.
Shakespeare’s ability to capture humanity’s truths in what are seemingly throwaway lines continues to delight and amuse to this day. From Lear, we have: “Many a true word hath been spoken in jest". And upon learning the truth about his daughters: “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth is it to have a thankless child.” Sentiments echoed by parents of teenagers the world over ever since!
With so much on offer at the North Playhouse, it is well worth a trip to the little town of Prescot to grab yourself a bit of culture…and some truffle and Parmesan chips for sustenance!
Shakespeare North Playhouse Prospero Place, Prescot, L34 3AB
t: 0151 433 7156
e: hello@shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk
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