Part 4:
"A sunny side up approach to the Bard" Scotsman"A sure-fire prescription for early morning blues" Sunday Times
"Highly energetic and entertaining" The List
You really do need stamina and enthusiasm if you're going to tackle the Fringe, especially to experience the little gems of shows which are usually in some tiny attic theatre space at odd times of the day and night. C theatre performing Shakespeare for Breakfast entices a large, extremely enthusiastic audience at 10am every morning. What is the attraction? Apart from being a highly talented and innovative company one reason dozens of people are making their way to the 3rd floor theatre of C Venue 34 on Chamber Street is the fact that complimentary coffee and croissants are offered as part of your ticket price. So a great place to go for breakfast, with entertainment thrown in for good measure, or perhaps Measure for Measure.
2001 marks the 10th anniversary of this sparkling, improvised comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe. Director Abigail Anderson has been involved with Shakespeare for Breakfast since the very beginning in 1992 when she sold tickets for the show out of make-shift box office. That first production became an overnight hit, with queues for tickets every morning, award nominations and invitations to perform at international festivals.
The storyline and format of the show changes every year thus building up a strong and loyal following. Suitable for everyone from the age of 9 to 90, it's a fun introduction to Shakespeare's plays and characters, and a light-hearted romp for those who love the Bard already - (and who won't be offended by a bit of a send-up). The international cast of five actors this year, Ewan, Jonathan, Sarit, Kate and Robert represent Scotland, England, and Israel, who are all bouncing with energy from the moment we enter the theatre. From the word go they are clowning around full of crazy antics - "does anyone want another croissant", Robert shouts out and then bats a few into the crowd as 500 hands go up.
The theme is Shakespeare's Guide to Making Someone Fall in Love with You and is presented in the form of an hilarious medical lecture in emotional therapy. The cast all wear white doctors coats holding clip boards and with the assistance of a flip-chart, slap stick sketches, songs and sonnets, they knowledgeably guide us through about 15 lessons of love.
Lesson 1 - plead and beg; Lesson 2; be unobtainable. Lesson 4; Spout poetry - enacted with a brilliant scene from The Taming of the Shrew, with a very strong-minded modern-day Katherine determined not to be seduced so easily. And so the lecture continues with a great deal of brilliant and witty ad-libbing, and fooling around in true Shakespeare fashion. Be warned - there's a fair amount of audience participation, with poor unsuspecting people invited to be anointed with love potions, be proposed to or take part in sword fights. Don't sit in the front row if you suffer stage fright!.
Ten years on, Shakespeare for Breakfast is sure to continue to be a permanent and very popular start to the day for many Fringe goers. If you are interested in statistics, that adds up to around 42,000 croissants and cups of coffee which audiences have enjoyed before they sit back for an hour of unadulterated Shakespearean fun, puns and poetry.
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