 2009 Season
Players
Premier Series
This is the
inaugural production of our Players Premier Series, targeted at
mature/maturing youth, ages 13 and up.
A HIP-HOP RE-TELLING OF
SHAKESPEARE'S CLASSIC
WITH MUSIC BY DON
RICHMOND
STARRING
JAMES SHUBERT
STEVE WHILEY
SHANE MARDJUKI
CARINA HALES
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Synopsis
OTHELLO is an
intense and passionate drama about the tragic consequences of a man enflamed
by jealousy and spurred by the success of others to commit sinister
treacheries against his friends and loved ones. Othello, a Moor, is a
charismatic general and is wed to the fair Desdemona. However, Iago –
Othello’s comrade in arms – has long sought the love of Desdemona himself
and hates the Moor for winning her love when he couldn’t. Furthermore, Iago
learns that he has been passed up for promotion by Othello and that
advancement given to young Cassio instead. So, Iago begins a plot to ensnare
the great but gullible Othello by making him believe that Cassio and
Desdemona are secret lovers. As the tragedy unfolds it is Othello who
succumbs to, “Jealousy…the green-eyed monster that mocks the meat it feeds
on.” Iago cleverly manipulates the general into killing his own wife but in
the end is caught up as a victim himself in a death toll that leaves all but
Cassio to survive the tale.
Players
Theatre’s production of OTHELLO will place the story in a ghetto scarred by
urban blight and criss-crossed by graffiti. The appearance and attitude of
the cast will borrow from the familiar persona of today’s rap stars but
their backgrounds will be markedly different – these are soldiers of the
streets, not glamorous entertainers. Key soliloquies will be performed as
raps, capturing and reflecting the essence of MTV’s Emo/Hip-Hop generation.
The original music from Players Theatre’s Othello will be designed by radio
and music celebrity Don Richmond from “The Don & Drew Show” fame.
Highlights of the Show
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Othello is an extraordinary piece of theatre for
young people. It is stimulating, creative and has social and literary
breadth.
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Othello uses
hip-hop and rap as a way of bridging the complexities of Shakespearean
text. It incorporates powerful themes, creative staging, exciting visuals,
funky beats, graffiti, shadow puppetry and Shakespeare’s unmistakable
flair.
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Inculcates an
appreciation of literature as a subject.
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Introduces Shakespeare
in an accessible, contemporary, relatable and engaging manner.
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Demonstrates that a
well written text and fully fleshed out characters are relevant no
matter the era.
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Provides a deeper
understanding of Shakespeare’s language and the actual themes, struggles
and story of Othello.
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As with all
Players Theatre shows, the performance will be followed by a post-show
talkback to elaborate on the themes of the play and help young audience
members consolidate their thoughts of the show, clarify any questions they
might have on who, how, why and to ask the actors any questions about
themselves or how
theatre is made.
*This show is fully
endorsed by the National Arts Council Arts Education Programme*
Government Schools, JC’s and ITE’s are entitled to use
the Tote Board Grant to subsidise up to 60% of the programme cost.
Schools are also entitled to a Priority Booking Discount before 31st March 2009.
Why
watch a Players Theatre Premier Series Production?
Although
Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English
language, the fun and excitement of his plays are often overlooked.
Classroom focus of Shakespeare tends to be on the language which is heavy
with obscure words and archaic references and students conclude that his
work is difficult, inaccessible and ultimately boring.
This is not the
case. Shakespeare plays are filled with the kind of drama that modern youth
love in the entertainment of their own choosing, be it the adrenaline
pumping action of Halo, the romantic intrigue of High School Musical, the
edgy Emo of MTV or the hilarious antics of SpongeBob Squarepants.
The question is
how to get students past the obstacle of difficult language to enjoy the
stories they are sure to love. Furthermore, it is vital to not disregard the
language altogether for it is the core of Shakespeare’s beauty.
Players
Theatre’s OTHELLO manages to strike a fine balance by paring down what is
normally a 3 hour play to about 60 minutes. It also presents key soliloquies
of the script in a modern rap style. The language itself has been preserved,
but carefully selected to be as accessible as possible while retaining its
vivid power.
Teacher’s Pack
Upon request,
teachers will be given a take home teacher’s pack containing before and after show
activities for follow up with their students.
If you have booked a
show and would like to request a Teacher's Pack, please email:
outreach@theplayerstheatre.org.
*Do
note that all Teacher's Packs are sent via email in a PDF format so do
provide an appropriate email address for delivery.
Booking Form
Click Here to download the booking form.
Fax forms to:
(65) 644-644-30.
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Show Dates & Times
| Date |
Day |
Times |
Book Through |
| 28 May 2009 |
Thursday |
1500 & 1900
|
644-644-30 |
| 29 May 2009 |
Friday |
1700 & 1900
|
644-644-30 |
|
30 May 2009 |
Saturday
|
1700 & 1900 |
644-644-30 |
|
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To Book Tickets
Ticket Prices:
(All prices reflect the Sistic Fee)
Regular: $28
+ $1
School Early Bird: (Before
31st March 2009)
$24
+ $1
Bulk
Booking:
$22
+ $1 - Book over 200 tickets
$20 + $1 - Book over 300 tickets
Concessions:
1 FREE
teacher's ticket for every 20
tickets purchased
Tote Board
Grant approved
To book, call: (65) 644-644-30 or email
outreach@theplayerstheatre.org
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Official Printers:
Supported by:
ArtsFund
Lee Foundation
Hong Leong Foundation
Thank you!
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