Review: THE SCOTTISH PLAY, Bard in the Yard

Like many of his contemporaries from the 16th and 17th centuries, the most famous english bard is the one and only William Shakespeare who lived his whole life in the shadow of the bubonic plague pandemic. Mostly spared by the multiple waves, he encountered human and economic consequences but never directly represented the plague in his writings, and the pandemic never stopped him from finding a way to share his stories with an audience. 

In a closer century, a pandemic struck the world and brought back quarantine, closures and tragedies. But it didn’t stop playwrights, artists and especially not London-based theatre company Will & Co, carrying on the bard’s legacy with workshops and shows about his life, times and works. Born in the midst of the first lockdown in reaction to the closure of theatres, their new unique and uplifting project, Bard in the Yard, is now conquering the UK. 

While waiting for the reopening, Artistic Director Victoria Gartner and her company conceived an innovative concept, contemplating reconnection to their audience and the opportunity of work for artists, based on a very deliveroo-esque and portable play idea, bringing the Bard to the people’s back gardens… or yards! Not only gardens but care homes, schools, pubs, outdoor venues, and churches. And why not bring in at the same time, original writings of a confused Bard who, in the middle of the pandemic, is confronted with the greatest author’s phobia - blank parchment! This results in two special plays, entirely written and directed by Gartner, King Leonardo and The Scottish Play, with an exclusive cast of 19 bards for the 2021 edition. 

In a potential Elizabethan time around 1606, when King James I requested new entertainment (specifically about his native Scotland), our dear bard William is in the spotlight to produce another triumph. But despite a colourfully researched trip in Scotland with his dear companion Richard Burbage, where some sausage-based meals, a witch and lots of liquor are involved, Shakespeare is in turmoil and blank parchment happens again! Feeling the pressure of the royal dagger on his neck and the threat of his head on a stake, he finds the presence of an audience to be very productive. Starting by asking opinions about a new written paragraph, he presents a delicious one-hour monologue, mentions the pressure and the difficulties of writing a comedy in an endlessly sinister plague context, drawing parallels with the current situation, recalls some of his soliloquy, anecdotes about his time in London, memories of his family, the competition with bear-baiting and even evoking his long-known rivalry with fellow playwright Ben Johnson. 

We were privileged to be among the first intimate audience to attend this brilliant new play, in what was quite an out-of-ordinary location - a private garden with beautiful roses and with a tall tree silhouetted against a June sunset, we couldn’t help but think that we were lucky. Our bard for the show’s premiere was the talented Kaya Bucholc, who literally lived the play, fully in character, and did not bat an eyelid when a bird (some Shakespearean facetious trick?) flew really close to her before landing nearby as an unexpected audience member…along with some squirrels, mosquitoes and a delivery guy for good measure!

Hilarious and engaging as a tormented Will facing “99 problems and counting”, bouncing and desperate in equal measure, singing and dancing along the way, she completely astounds the audience with her performance, which is more than impressive when it is revealed that she, as the 18 other bards, memorised the two plays in their entirety.

This funny, moving, immersive and interactive experience (prepare to participate or your heads may end up next to Will on a stick!), with ravishing attention to the smallest detail (a feather in hand and an “I will” totebag among others), will definitely enchant the audience in private spaces, before the next step into public places in London and Edinburgh in the coming months, bringing Shakespeare safely to everyone, even the ones at the back who think that Shakespeare is not for them.

Long live the Bard in the Yard! 

**** Four stars 

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.