Preview: Shakespeare’s Globe 2019 – Pericles, The Comedy of Errors and Twelfth Night, presented by ABA Productions

This September, Shakespeare’s Globe returns to Singapore to present three of the Bard’s works, each dealing with the timely themes of refuge and displacement. Using the same company to perform multiple roles across all three plays, watch as Pericles, The Comedy of Errors and Twelfth Night comes to life onstage, each one a timeless tale of those who have crossed seas, lost their families, and are finding out what belonging truly means to them.

Comprising a company of just eight actors, the tour is led by director Brendan O’Hea, and will have already toured all over the UK and Europe before their arrival in Singapore. Best known for their ‘clear storytelling which brings Shakespeare to all,” it’s a rare chance and good opportunity to see some of the more rarely staged plays live in Singapore by professionals. In Pericles, one of Shakespeare’s late romances, the titular Pericles, Prince of Tyre, is forced to flee his kingdom and wander the world. In The Comedy of Errors, a pair of estranged twin brothers (both named Antipholus) and a pair of estranged twin servants (both named Dromio) get separated at sea. Mistaken identity ensues and the city of sorcery throws them all into theatrical chaos. Finally, Twelfth Night, perhaps the best known work out of the three, features a family melodrama as the lovesick Duke Orsino pines for the indifferent Olivia, while an alliance of servants attempts to rebel against the pompous steward Malvolio. Things get even more confusing when a pair of twins become entangled in the drama, and love, love, love (and high comedy) ensues.

Perhaps most excitingly, on opening night (10th September), ticket holders are in for a complete surprise – they won’t know what play they’ll be catching until it begins! With this one night only event, come take part in a democratic theatrical experiment, with its origins dating all the way back to the 16th century, where audiences have the power to vote for the performance they watch. The rules are simple – the loudest cheer wins, and the chosen play out of the three will begins straightaway!

So whether or not you’ll be there on opening night, or go to a specific play, be sure to laugh out loud, cry when you want to, and applaud like no tomorrow as Shakespeare’s Globe returns to Singapore to bring the Bard back, and blow you away with the magic of his words and the eternal relevance of his tales.

Shakespeare’s Globe will performan at the Victoria Theatre from 10th to 15th September 2019. Pericles will play on 11th and 13th September, The Comedy of Errors on 12th, 14th and 15th September, and Twelfth Night on 14th and 15th September. The show on 10th September will be a surprise out of the three, based on audience choice. Tickets available from SISTIC