Slam down for Shakespeare

The contrasting worlds of Shakespeare and World Wrestling are to clash at the University of Teesside.

A touring production, Wrestling Shakespeare, will be visiting the University on Monday 13 February. The play, written by Anton Hecht, is a humorous look at Shakespeare and its place in our world.

The actors will be clad in wrestling attire, with some names based on characters from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. These include Hulk Hamlet, who takes on the might of the evil Clobberem Claudio, as they battle to become reigning champion of Denmark. The performance combines Shakespearean text with the spectacle of World Wrestling. It looks at Shakespeare’s place in today’s world, and examines the way companies and directors adapt the text to make it relevant to a modern audience.

The production is free and open to all members of the public, who are requested to be in their seats by 1.45pm on Monday 13 February in the University’s Main Hall, Brittan Building. It lasts from 2.00pm to 3.30pm.

There will be an opportunity to photograph the actors in costume with University of Teesside students earlier at 12 noon on Monday 13 February in the same building. For more details on this please call Stephen Laing on 01642 342962.

Writer Anton Hecht said: “We’re pleased to come to the University. It gives us a stage to engage with local young people and show the piece to as wide an audience as possible.”

Mark Dooley, Acting Section Head for English Studies at the University added: “We are delighted to host this production of Wrestling Shakespeare. It gives our students and others the opportunity to widen their understanding of the ways in which literary texts and figures are endlessly adapted in contemporary culture. The relevance of Shakespeare today is a hotly debated topic.”    Wrestling Shakespeare has played successfully in theatrical venues in Hull, Newcastle, Washington, Sunderland and Bishop Auckland and in schools all over the North East.

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