Shakespeare à la Carte

Synopsis: Radio version of a theatre production devised by Jonathan Cullen and Richard Hahlo, based on an original idea by Pippa Smith. Actors from the theatre company Hydrocracker, masquerading as waiters in a pizza restaurant, take over a live Shakespeare performance when actors from the RSC and the National Theatre are stuck in traffic. With Jonathan Cullen, Fiona Dunn aand Richard Hahlo.
Series: Afternoon Play
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Radio
Transmission details: 13 Apr 2009 at 14:15 (Channel: BBC Radio 4)
Duration: 45 mins

Producer

Contributor

Jonathan Cullen; Pippa Smith; Richard Hahlo

Cast

Notes: Recorded live at a restaurant in Brighton.
General: The radio version produced by the independent company Sweet Talk Productions features the original cast - Jonathan Cullen, Fiona Dunn and Richard Hahlo - who together form the theatre company Hydrocracker.
History: Shakespeare a la Carte premiered as a site-specific stage show at Pizza Express in Brighton during the Brighton Festival in May 2008, offering audiences the chance to order extracts from Shakespeare plays and watch them performed by actors masquerading as waiters.
Reviews: Matthew Hemley for The Stage News, 10 February 2009, "Hahlo said the company had written two extra characters for the radio production who will ‘frame the action for those listening to it at home’ and added: ‘t’s good that we will record it live, because what you get, which will work strongly, is big chunks of Shakespeare. Then around that you have the to-ing and fro-ing of these waiters trying to get these speeches organised. There are lots of interesting jokes around catering and Shakespeare, which I hope will still work on the radio.'
http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/23436/bbc-radio-puts-site-specific-shakespeare-on (accessed 14/4/2009)
Source: BBC Radio 4 Programme Information, Radio Times

British Universities Film & Video Council