NON-STOP SHAKESPEARE

1st - 3rd May 2004

Matt, Ian, Keir and myself performed the Complete Works of Shakespeare - that's 37 plays - over one Bank Holiday weekend, in Southwark, London, to raise money for my voluntary project in Peru ... It took 63 hours, 6 minutes and 46 seconds precisely. We raised about £2000.

We were ruff enough.

 

Audience acclaim for Non-Stop Shakespeare (courtesy of the Southwark News):

"I don't really understand it. It's the first time I've seen Shakespeare" Derrick Hung, 27, from Taiwan

"It's an interesting idea. And I like the props. There's a large vegetable which looks interesting. I think it's a marrow. I don't know if that's part of the stage or their food." Simon Moore, 25, Investment Analyst

"I love it!" Adele Madsen, 56, from Utah, whose husband is called 'Bard' ...

Click here for more information about the Peru Appeal

Key to photographers:

ND - Nigel Dexter

JG - John Girdlestone

SN - Southwark News

 The troops at the ready. Half six in the morning in my kitchen, ready for 60-odd hours of Barding it Setting up on Bankside. The weather wasn't promising, was it, but at least authentic for British outdoor theatre Matt completes his pre-performance meditations, to get him in that Shakespeare zone. A Winter's Tale - much to the surprise of an early-morning jogger every few minutes.
Thanks so much for letting me use your piccies! All the rest are mine. Yep, you're eyes aren't deceiving you. Keir is giving suck to a marrow. Katherine the Shrew expresses her disdain at being dragged out to Bankside at stupid o'clock in the morning to prat about in the drizzle (ND) The bemused British public begin to arrive in droves. Meanwhile, Ian shows the first signs of uncontrollable capering. (ND) Matt and Ian mid-Shrew, against the backdrop of the Wobbly Bridge (ND)
Keir is so excessively excited about this speech that everyone wants a piece of it! (ND) Ozzie Osborne makes the first of many guest appearances - in a dress (ND) And so to Hamlet. I donned the big black coat and looked as though I'd seen a ghost. (ND) And there is the foul apparition! Note we only have a Vileda Super-Mop to protect us. (ND)
Ian 'The Dexter' Dexter as the fair Ophelia. Because he's worth it. (ND) "Unhouseled, disappointed, unaneled ...!" And under a sheet. (ND) Where did you get that hat? Ian performs with the new Swiss Re building - AKA The Erotic Gherkin - in the background. (ND) Blazing sunshine on the Thames on Sunday. Considering we'd been at it for over 24 hours, we look in remarkably fine fettle. (JG)
The First Part of Henry IV. Since it's a history play, we're probably all playing at least five parts each. (JG) Keir as Poins, complete with 'cigar' and booming American accent. (JG) Ian demonstrates to Diane the ancient Dexter art of capering, which gradually became more hysterical as the weekend progressed. How frightful - my roots are showing!
Action continues in the Hall on Monday, the boyz hard at it behind our boards ticking off each and every act of the 185 we performed. The End! A bergomask dance would have been jolly here outside BBC TV Centre, but we really didn't have the energy. Exeunt severally ...
 

© Ben James 2004