British Black and Asian Shakespeare Performance Database
The Winter's Tale (2009): Nuffield Theatre, Southampton, Headlong
CAST INCLUDED: James Buller (Polixenes); John Hodgkinson (Autolycus); Ferdinand Kingsley (Florizel); Vince Leigh (Leontes); Golda Rosheuvel (Paulina); Amanda Ryan (Hermione).
This production ran from 15 - 26 September 2009. Production information from Theatre Record; may be incomplete.
"Simon Godwin's modern-dress production (with the Headlong theatre company) catches both its edgy magic and its fierce moral drive. King Leontes (Vince Leigh) and his guests are having some after-dinner champagne, which is beginning gently to have its effect: the king's outburst of jealousy is caused by a tyrannical temperament let loose by sweet alcohol. The point Leigh makes here is that once you poison yourself, you become your own prisoner. The Bohemian scenes need more attention: the cosy home counties atmosphere is a tad too smug to carry the weight of Shakespeare's argument about nature and nurture." ~ John Peter, Sunday Times, 20 September 2009, in Theatre Record 2009, Issue 19
"This is a really terrific touring production: uncluttered, good at storytelling, neatly designed with a nod to the 1930s, and full of nifty touches. Shakespeare's most famous stage direction, 'exit, pursued by a bear', becomes an act of the imagination involving Perdita's teddy bear, and there is a touch of the Kneehighs in the delicious song and dance routine at the sheep-shearing feast. I'm not entirely sure about the Greek relocation, but I'm entirely convinced by many of the performances in this most economical production, in which many of the actors double or triple up on roles. Golda Rosheuvel is a brilliant, tigerish Paulina" ~ Lyn Gardner, The Guardian, 22 September 2009, in Theatre Record 2009, Issue 19
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