Much Ado About Comedy

Synopsis: Radio broadcast. Matt Lucas explores Shakespeare’s comedies and examines whether they have an influence on current humour. Today we interpret comedy from a different perspective than 400 years ago - comedy in that era, meant a happy ending. Now Shakespeare’s comedies are used to greater comic effect, depending on the director and actors involved, and how they can convey his words for today’s audiences. Director Michael Grandage explains how he translates the text from as fresh a perspective as possible. The programmes examines the role of the Fool - what did fools represent in Elizabethan times and were they the stand-up comedians of their day? As The Reversed Shakespeare Company is launched, artistic director, Lindsay Dukes, shares her future plans of gender-swapping all of Shakespeare’s characters to offer a fresh experience to the younger generation. The programme also hears about Ben Elton’s new sitcom about William Shakespeare’s life, ‘Upstart Crow’, and features contributions from Catherine Tate, John Sessions, Fiona Shaw, Adam Long and Simon Russell Beale.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Radio
Transmission details: 20 Apr 2016 at 22:00 (Channel: BBC Radio 2)
Duration: 60 mins