Episode 455. BackRoom Shakespeare Backstage
RSC Managing Partner Austin Tichenor performed with the Back Room Shakespeare Project in their production of The Merchant of Venice in July 2015 at the Radler Bar & Restaurant, and because his roles were relatively (thankfully) small, he roamed the backstage area interviewing actors and audience members about their preparation and expectations. Featuring an audio excerpt of the performance, similarities to tricksy hobbits, navigating the play’s racism and anti-semitism, finding the comedy, and the joys and terrors of performing in a riotous pit of bloodthirsty drunks. NOTE: BRSP co-founder Samuel Taylor (who coined the expression embroidered into a sampler by Kate Pitt) discusses the Project’s aims and philosophies in his book My Life With The Shakespeare Cult on RSC Podcast episode 437. (Length 23:57)
Podcast: Download (Duration: 23:57 — 22.1MB)
Episode 452. Beyond The Stage
Reed Martin, Austin Tichenor, and Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival workshop cast members Chad Yarish, Dan Saski, and Teddy Spencer discuss the development of the new script William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged) as part of NDSF’s “Beyond The Stage” series. Featuring questions from NDSF Artistic Director Grant Mudge and members of the audience, and discussion about the power of story, outrageous tales of audience participation, the challenges of working with two directors, the tricks of telling the truth and interacting with the public, inevitable comparisons, and the wonder of Shakespearean inspiration. (Length 22:18)
Podcast: Download (Duration: 22:18 — 20.6MB)
Busy Busy Fall!
In addition to our ongoing UK Tour of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) , and our performances of The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) around the US, we're excited to make our debut in mainland China with performances of Shakespeare (abridged) at Read more…
Shakes On A Plane!
On-Bard entertainment: RSC Sets Guinness World’s Record Aboard EasyJet
EasyJet, the UK’s largest airline, celebrated the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth (23 April, 2014) with a Guinness World Record performance by the Reduced Shakespeare Company of their reduced Romeo and Juliet from their signature production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged). (more…)
The UK is OK!
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) continues its smash hit UK tour! Buy tickets now before the tourcloses on November 16. If you miss the show on tour you'll have one last chance to see the show at the Park Theatre in London Read more…
Shakespeare is in Hong Kong
No, the Bard himself is not in China. But the RSC will be performing the show - The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) October 14-27 at the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts. And check this out! The President of Singapore Read more…
![The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]](https://www.reducedshakespeare.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/banner-shakespeare1.jpg)
Don Your Doublet and Clutch Your Codpiece!
![The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]](http://reducedshakespeare.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/shakespeare-pic.jpg)
We Bad Boys of Abridgement continue our tour of the UK through August, with our original minimus opus The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised], an irreverent, fast-paced romp through the Bard’s plays – all 37 in 97 minutes! Join we madcap men in tights as we weave our wicked way through all of Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories and Tragedies in one wild ride that will leave you breathless and helpless with laughter.
“STUPENDOUS, ANCHORLESS JOY!” Times (more…)
Meet the Men in Tights…
![The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]](http://reducedshakespeare.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/men-in-tights.gif)
The cast traipsing about the UK will consist of a couple of wily RSC veterans and two squirrelly newcomers.
* Aging ingenue Matt Rippy leads the charge, having been a member of the RSC since 1995 and having performed in five Reduced shows in seven countries on five continents, many of them solidly. Audiences who watch television or go to movies will recognize Matt from his below-decks discovery in The Dark Knight and his steamy appearance as the original Captain Jack Harkness in Torchwood. (more…)
Returning to London
Oh, yes - you read that right! But read it again just to be sure. See?! It's really true! The show that launched a thousand reductions, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) is coming back to the West End Read more…
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) Returns to the UK
![The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]](http://reducedshakespeare.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/RSC-Shakespeare-A3-1000px.jpg)
Why? asks a bewildered nation. Read on… We were very disturbed by the recent Vision Critical survey that suggests contemporary children have no idea who Shakespeare is and that more than a quarter of adults haven’t read his plays. And as for the final kick in the codpiece that nobody even knows Shakespeare was British? We blame ourselves. (more…)
Shakespeare Returns to the UK!
![The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]](http://reducedshakespeare.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/shakespeare-pic.jpg "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]")
UK National Tour from April 2013! (And yes, this time we mean Scotland, too). We were very disturbed by the recent survey conducted by Vision Critical that suggests contemporary children have no idea who Shakespeare is and that more than a quarter of adults haven’t read his plays. And the final kick in the codpiece that nobody knows Shakespeare was British?! We blame ourselves.
Ever since the three American lads of the Reduced Shakespeare Company concocted The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised], the play has been such a massive global phenomenon that most people quite rightly assume that Shakespeare was American. (We thought so too until very recently.) Shakespeare is the most produced playwright in any language in any country. He’s EVERYWHERE. He’s like the American military or Katy Perry, except with fewer guns or firework-shooting bras.
Episode 256. We Review ‘Anonymous’
During a break from our successful run of The Complete World of Sports (abridged) at the New Victory Theatre in New York City, we aim our satirical guns at the much-debated film “Anonymous” and the theories that underlie it. Joined by theatrical pundit and raconteur Howard Sherman, the members of the RSC (Reed Martin, Matt Rippy, Austin Tichenor, and office manager Alli Bostedt) improvised their review and analysis in the offices of the New Victory Theater immediately after the film. Featuring differing opinions, much benefit of the doubt, unabridged wig appreciation, a perfect critical response from NPR’s Bob Mondello — and zero convincing. For a definitive rebuttal to the so-called Authorship Question, download the entirely free PDF “Shakespeare Bites Back: Not So Anonymous,” by Rev. Dr. Paul Edmondson and Prof. Stanley Wells, CBE of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. (Length 26:53)
Podcast: Download (Duration: 26:53 — 12.5MB)
Our First Live Webcast!
Current RSC members Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor are joined by founding members Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield - and original props goddess Sa Winfield - as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of the very first performance by those upstarts from Read more…
Episode 230. Sassy Gay Friend
“What, what, what are you doing?!” The Sassy Gay Friend is an internet sensation, and creator/star/writer Brian Gallivan discusses his fabulous character’s surprising impact. Featuring literary and pop culture inspirations, how the SGF will come to your community, a special appearance by Man vs Food host Adam Richman, and how a Read more…
Podcast: Download (Duration: 18:00 — )