
Stiltskin are in the mood for love!
Imagine working in the theatre with your husband every day and having to play a romantic role together? You would think it would be easy, but for husband and wife team, Jacqueline and Iain Slade from Stiltskin, this is their first time they have played romantic characters.
In March they will be playing Romeo and Juliet in a specially adapted version for children at the award-winning Soapbox Children’s Theatre, Devonport Park. The performance will take place during Shakespeare Week, which is a national event with the aim of getting primary school children to enjoy early encounters with Shakespeare.
Iain from Stiltskin said “Last year we preformed Macbeth for Kids and it was a great success. We broke down the story making it accessible for children and young people to understand”. He added “this year we decided to have some fun with Romeo and Juliet”.
The adaptation follows Chop and Block, two endearing Elizabethan fools who are entertaining the Kings Players at Chop’s Chippy, when tragedy strikes, and the players are struck down with food poisoning. But, the show must go on! Chop and Block endeavour to re-create the nation’s favourite tragic romance of the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, with a supporting cast of potatoes, frying pans and many more delights from the lovable rogues’ kitchen.
Stiltskin do Shakespeare with Romeo and Juliet is on from 16th – 24th March at The Soapbox Children’s Theatre in Devonport Park.
Jacqueline, who is responsible for adapting the play said “This is a beautiful play full of romance and fun, with dramatic and tragic moments driven on by love and passion and, of course with such a tragic ending. We will endeavour to keep the story intact using the Shakespearean text, whilst enlivening it with our storytelling characters, puppets and playfulness for children to understand and enjoy. We hope they will realise that Shakespeare is one of the best story tellers ever known and want to continue to appreciate more of his work in the future.”
The theatre was recently awarded “Best Theatre in Devon” in the Muddy Stiletto Awards and the “People’s Choice” in the Abercrombie Awards. Big things are in store for the Theatre: through crowd funding and grants they have plans to change the entrance and add toilets. They have recently added a café and independent toy shop: The Toy Box to the theatre.
The performance is ideal for children aged 6 plus and a great introduction to Shakespeare. So if you are in the mood for love and see one of Shakespeare’s most romantic plays with a Stiltskin twist then head over to The Soapbox’s website: www.stiltskin.org.uk