- Intermission Youth Theatre’s 15th-anniversary Shakespeare adaptation
- Challenges language stereotypes
- Promotes diversity and inclusion
In celebration of its 15th anniversary, Intermission Youth Theatre presented a reimagined rendition of the Shakespearean tragedy “The Taming of the Shrew.” The production explored themes such as maturation, coming of age, and gender stereotypes.
Young people are criticized for using language that is “too colloquial” today, despite the fact that William Shakespeare was lauded for doing the same thing four centuries ago, according to a theatre director.
Intermission Youth Theatre reinterprets the bard’s work from the perspective of youth culture, fusing language that is four centuries old with contemporary trends.
It retitled “Taming Who?”, a reinterpretation of “Taming of the Shrew,” to commemorate its 15th anniversary this year.
The dynamic adaptation of Shakespeare’s play reinterprets familiar verses and introduces fresh dialogue to revitalize the original work.
The adaptation examines identity and maturation while challenging gender stereotypes.
Hortensio, portrayed by Tre Medley, assists the protagonist, Petruchio, in formulating a strategy to locate a spouse so that he does not have to return to Nigeria to reside with his recently bereaved mother.
The opportunity to work with Shakespeare and the modern vernacular is extremely exciting, he said. Adapting an ancient text from so long ago and then having it updated for a play set in 2023 is truly remarkable.
Mr. Medley asserts that inclusivity among black actors is particularly critical.
Intermission Youth’s Diverse Cast and Creative Youth in Shakespearean Adaptation
Played by Morenike Onajobi, who also assisted in the direction of the production, is the Nigerian mother.
She stated that Intermission Youth attracts a tremendously diverse audience due to its diverse cast.
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It is wonderful to have individuals dedicate their time to spend an evening with us. Because attendance at the theatre is not common in our community at large, it is crucial that we put on a production that our community wants to see, can relate to, and understands.”
Young people, according to artistic director and playwright Darren Raymond, are just as inventive with the English language as Shakespeare was.
“In my opinion, our youth are inherently creative,” he stated.
“They, like Shakespeare, are perpetually inventing new terms; however, they are reviled for it. They are accused of undermining the English language because it has become too colloquial and ignorant, among other things. But they hold in high regard a writer who is credited with doing so four centuries ago.
The show was directed by Stevie Basaula, known for playing Isaac Baptiste on EastEnders and Bulletproof on Sky.
Additionally, Basaula is a graduate of Intermission Youth Theatre, and he stated that youth were the focal point of the initiative.
Intermission Youth’s Artistic Evolution
Directing the exact piece that I once dabbled in as a youthful and inexperienced actor, nearly a decade ago. While anxiously yet enthusiastically making my stage début, is a complete 360-degree turn.
Although much has changed, many of Shakespeare’s themes remain. In his problematic classic, I eagerly anticipate discovering fresh approaches to address while honoring him in my directorial debut.
“Taming Who?” is a component of the 15th-anniversary season of activity for Intermission Youth. Since its establishment in 2008, the organization has been engaged in the exploration of Shakespeare’s works with the intention of involving young, marginalized individuals who are deficient in opportunities through the creation of reimagined theatrical productions.
A cohort of young people performed the annual 10-month drama training programme (IYT). This culminates in a completely realized stage production, as part of the Arcola Theatre’s anniversary season this year.
