Welcome to The Phoenix Beachfront Bar, where owners Ant and Adriana serve up karaoke laced with fruity cocktail kicks.
When Ant’s long lost twin brother washes up on shore, with his loveable but idiotic mate Dromio (who also happens to be a long lost twin) a hilarious and anarchic adventure of errors ensues. The two sets of twins plus a host of colourful characters, mysterious merchants, late night lovers, a drag queen and a nun grab the wrong end of the stick (of seaside rock) in a hilarious, helter-skelter comedy of mistaken identity, magic and mayhem, bingo and bunting, candy floss and cocktails, seagulls and slapstick – and where the Punch & Judy show might well end in a punch up.
Pull up a deckchair, grab your “Kiss Me Quick” hat and join us for a fast paced, colourful version of Shakespeare’s classic The Comedy of Errors featuring live music and lashings of sun soaked silliness. Fun-House fun for all the family under the direction of Off West End Award winner Matthew Parker who returns to direct for OVO following his 2020 ★★★★★ debut with Henry V.
★★★★★ “Bursting with energy, originality and laugh-out-loud moments” The Review Chap
★★★★★ “A treat to see Shakespearean sophistication at this level” IThankYou Theatre
★★★★★ “Tour de force” Sardines Magazine
Cast
- Antipholus of Ephesus: Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson
- Antipholus of Syracuse: Lewis Jenkins
- Dromio of Ephesus: Oliver Lynes
- Dromio of Syracuse: Sam Denia
- Adriana: Phoebe Marshall
- Luciana: Rosie Edwards
- Courtesan: William Donaldson
- Egeon/Officer: Matthew Parker
- Duke/Balthasar/Pinch: Sheetal Kapoor
- Angelo/Merchant 1/Pinch’s Assistant: Reece Pantry
- Lucy/Abbess/Merchant 2/Pinch’s Assistant: Cassandra Hodges
Creatives
- Author: William Shakespeare
- Producer: OVO/The Maltings Theatre
- Director: Matthew Parker
- Musical Director: Rosa Lennox
- Designer: Simon Nicholas
- Costume: Delga Martineau
- Lighting: Chris McDonnell
- Sound: Nat Casey
- Choreographer: Sundeep Saini
- Production Manager: Ryan Wilce
- Stage Manager: Becky Brown
- Assistant Director: Beth Wilson
It's very easy for us, with all our reverence for Shakespeare, to forget that sometimes his plays are fun, silly and anarchic and Parker really hits the nail on the head here
This is a wonderful production fit for the whole family. Set in a beautiful historic open-air theatre, with a brilliant cast and a Shakespearean comedy, what’s not to love?
Matthew Parker brings a cheery, end-of-the-pier quality to his staging of this knockabout saga of misplaced relatives, mistaken identity and muddled fortunes
The hardworking cast play with the gusto of old-time barnstormers in an end-of-the-pier panto under the deliciously deranged direction of Matthew Parker who throws in inflatable hammers, a Punch and Judy booth and a hall of mirrors
There is much to enjoy amid the helter-skelter antics
Back to back pop hits… A lively musical twist on Shakespeare’s comedy
Directed by, and featuring, Matthew Parker, the 2-hour Shakespearean romp encourages the full family engagement with sing-along, slapstick and (if you’re lucky) a sunset to accompany
