March 25th, 2012

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Well dear reader, our latest and original production ‘Shakespeare Unplugged’ has surpassed my hopes. As I write this, we’ve sold 90 percent of our tickets and I feel that we have a piece of magic on our hands. This seldom happens to this extent in my experience, and I’m hoping that we as a theatre company can find some support to enable us to take this production on a tour of Denmark and Skåne. Maybe even beyond? This show would grace any Shakespeare festival anywhere in the world. You can tell that I’m proud of it can’t you?

Many people have travelled from deepest darkest Jutland to come and see us in Østerbro. There’s an audience for making Shakespeare accessible and joyous it seems. Some of the best comments I’ve had thus far are: “I didn’t realise Shakespeare could be funny,” “When I get home I’m going to read more Shakespeare,” and “Shakespeare will never be dull again.” Tick those ‘job-done’ boxes then eh?

Of course, you can’t please everyone, and the only reviewer from a Danish newspaper who came in didn’t like our concept of setting Shakespeare in a pub with the audience on stage with us, calling it “low-budget” and “Shakespeare for Beginners”. The night she was there the roof was raised with laughter, but she had a face like a slapped arse. Possibly not serious or reverential enough for her taste, but I can’t help feeling that she missed the point.

The general lack of mainstream coverage we receive is a big source of irritation for me. We’re trying to give this city theatre of an international standard with little financial support, but critics, who I know are busy, don’t even respond to my invitations. A bit rude. We are invisible then to their readers. Why should I care you may ask if we’ve sold so many tickets? Well, a bit of recognition would be appreciated in my book. When we produce classics like Pinter or Beckett we get criticised for not doing new plays, and yet when we do original works they don’t show any interest.

Nuff said on that. I’ve had my public rant and sort of understand why we’re off the radar: after all we play in English. But if Copenhagen really wants to consider itself to be remotely international, they ought to try

harder to support good productions that are home-grown as t’were. We employ many Scandinavian actors and play to many Danes. We ain’t just a cosy little ‘expat’ society theatre.

I’ll enjoy the remainder of this run until March 24 and see what happens in the future. A case of watch this space methinks.

Shakespeare Unplugged is currently playing at Krudttønden theatre in Østerbro.