Sunday, February 10, 2013

Hero with a Six-pack: Shakespeare's 'Othello' at the Bussey Building, Peckham

 
 
 I was intrigued by the sound of this venue -  a former weapons factory off Rye Lane, Peckham.  Thanks to the Transport for London site maps I was more or less able to pinpoint the location -up a tiny alleyway opposite Peckham Rye railway station. The narrow passage led to a weird courtyard decorated with black and white graffitti in gothic style, featuring a huge animal skull.
 
 
 
The theatre  is housed in the  attic of the the ramshackle edifice, now converted into smaller  commercial units. Stairs lead up to  cavern-like room with a stage at one end and cafe tables at the other. A helpful young assistant, spotting myself and my elderly companion, escorted  us by lift to the theatre.  Just as well - the concertina-like metal door had to be forced open  manually.
 
It's usally a disadvantage when an acting ensemble has no members aged over forty; here it proved  an asset. A youthful  cast and the nature  of the venue were well-suited to a distinctive  interpretation of Shakespeare's tragic tale. 
 
My review appears on the Remotegoat website.
 
 
 

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