Anthony and Cleopatra Reviews

Grant Feather from Croydon, England

BRILLIANT

Loved this production. The mixture of sign language and spoken text really worked to show the cultural gulf between Rome and Egypt. The signing actors were so physically gifted it was like watching a dance. A great way to spend an afternoon.

Louise from London, England

BILINGUAL THEATRE AT ITS BEST!

I attended press night of Antony and Cleopatra at the Globe and was deeply moved by the blending of signed and spoken worlds and cultures. I don't sign myself but the storytelling was clear and made the text more powerful to see it visually. The play has a great pace and really shows how much comedy is peppered in Shakespeare's deep tragedy, such as the balance of life. The creative captions only added to my experience, I recognise my hearing privilege that I don't need to use the captions, which gives a greater understanding of the needs of deaf audiences. I think if audiences would get over their irritation at having to read the captions they would open their hearts and minds as to what bilingual theatre can be. An original and hugely powerful show. Go and experience it for yourself!

Sio from London, England

STARTLINGLY ORIGINAL VERSION

The clever idea of showcasing the differences in culture and the breakdowns in communication between characters by having the Romans speak English and the Egyptians use sign language is brave and original. It mostly works and is supported by a cast who are excellent. It is wonderful to see so many deaf actors on such an iconic stage. This isn't one of Shakespeare's easiest plays so perhaps a better known play may have made this concept more accessible but the audience on the day I saw it responded well, especially to the humour. Many people who don't understand sign language and who don't easily understand Shakespeare likely found some of it more accessible by watching the visual and iconic nature of much of the signing. Some of the reviews already left for this show are disappointingly abelist and rather ignorant about sign language being a complex language capable of poetry, which requires an expressive face and body to communicate, and is not lesser than spoken English.

Sara Ward from Liverpool UK

A WORTHWHILE EXPERIENCE IN EVERY SENSE!

Well, contrary to other reviews I enjoyed the performance of Anthony and Cleopatra. Yes, at first it was strange having periods of silence but then that is the experience of anyone who is deaf and subtitles helped to tell the story. There was comedy in the play at times but for me that did not detract from the tragedy. Nor did the acting of the performers who were deaf. There is a lack of understanding in this world on how any significant hearing loss impacts and I thought this play was a positive move to help improve others understanding as well as a very enjoyable experience.

TB from Arizona

DISAPPOINTED

This is the eighth play I’ve seen at the Globe in eleven years. I love Shakespeare and love the Globe Theatre. Unfortunately, I agree with the dismal reviews. Having whole scenes with multiple characters signing in silence just killed the rhythm. Lots of audience members were looking around in disappointment. This is the first play that I left at the interval.

Graeme Davis from London, England

A STRANGE IDEA THAT DOESN’T WORK

I see everything at The Globe. “Much Ado” kept a full house even un torrential rain When I see people walking out of this performance I part way through the first half I know it is not just me. This play is not working. There are better bits. The fundamental problem is the decision to play Cleopatra and all the Egyptians in BSL with surtitles. It’s a clever idea - and a failing idea. Shakespeare is a great poet. An English-speaking audience needs English language to appreciate him. I’m not competent to assess the quality of the BSL but I think it is probably weak. I can assess the acting. It is comically over-done and ultimately flat. This is a very disappointing production. Maybe I’m missing something, that there is some wonder that has passed.me by. The Globe itself is super of course - but go and see something else.

Richard Bates from Cornwall

EMBARRASSING SILENCES

Reading Shakespeare's words shows him to be a great poet and dramatist. Hearing those words being mouthed well by fine actors elevate Shakespeare to the greatest wordsmith of all time. To see Cleopatra acting in silence was pitiful and painful. All her emotions were reduced to anguished mime - no fault of the actor who gave her all! In an effort to be inclusive this prodution only succeeded in excluding the whole audience from the extraordinary range of emotions that should be generated by this play. In my opinion (and of the stunning number of those who walked out) this was a failure to appreciate why people go to live theatre. Four of us paid the best part of £300 all told - we woz robbed!

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