Propeller: A Comedy of Errors and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Rose Theatre

'No one does Shakespeare like Propeller’: that is the bold statement that appears all over the company’s press material. We shall have another chance to judge this for ourselves when their productions of A Comedy of Errors and A Midsummer Night’s Dream return to London in March 2014.

A Midsummer Night's Dream has received rave reviews in its previous outings; the Mail on Sunday even went as far as to describe it as ‘touched by genius’. Full of mischief and appropriately camp magical mayhem, this production nevertheless is not afraid to draw out the darker side of this best-known of plays. 

Alongside Dream is A Comedy of Errors. With mistaken identities, twins separated at birth and a plethora of assumed personas, the madness of the play is unmistakable. Lyn Gardner described the production as, “blissfully entertaining … the funniest and most farcical I've seen”.

Edward Hall’s all-male company are a true ensemble working together to create some of the most extraordinary and innovative Shakespearean productions seen on stage today; we were previously particularly enthralled by their devastatingly brave domestic violence themed The Taming of the Shrew which premiered in 2006. Despite adhering to the traditional notion of an all-male cast, Propeller’s actors never drift towards the pantomime dame, with gorgeously subtle physicality allowing them, where necessary, to embody rather than impersonate the female form. 

This season, Propeller is pulling out the tried and tested, making the staples of British theatre seem fresh and funny once again with productions that have already delighted audiences across the world. This is Shakespeare like no other and is absolutely not to be missed. 

Tickets: £6-£27

Address & Map:  24-26 High St,  Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1HL

Nearest Station: Kingston