Comedy of Errors, The Globe

Alongside Lucy Bailey’s bloody Titus Andronicus, the Globe’s 2014 season includes another of Shakespeare’s early plays – though this one is rather more cheerful. The Comedy of Errors is perhaps the definitive farce of mistaken identities, incorporating what would come to be all the hallmarks of the Bard’s much-loved comedies.
The Story...
The action of the play revolves around two pairs of estranged identical twins: Antipholus of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracuse and their respective servants Dromio of Ephesus and Dromio of Syracuse – confused yet? If identical appearances and names were not enough, the twins all end up in the same city, creating the perfect recipe for chaos and misunderstanding. Shakespeare’s play was based on two Roman comedies by Plautus, but his writing dials up the farcical elements for maximum comedy potential.
The Production...
The Globe’s new production is to be directed by Blanche McIntyre, who is frequently lauded as the next big thing in British directing. The multi-award winning director is best known for her delicate and psychologically rich productions of plays such as Accolade, Foxfinder and The Seagull, so we’re intrigued to see her get stuck into a riotous comedy. Audiences should expect plenty of laughs and a few more layers than they are used to finding in this most light-hearted of Shakespeare’s plays.
This production also offers a chance to see The Comedy of Errors as it would originally have been staged – or at least as close as possible to that experience. The Globe, which is itself designed on the model of an Elizabethan theatre, is using Renaissance costumes and staging for this version of the play, so expect period music, lots of ruffs and a jig at the end.