Sh!itfaced-Shakespeare: quick links
What would the Bard himself think about a rotating cast getting drunk and performing his plays? Would he rise from the grave, skull in hand, to bemoan this tipsy desecration of his sacred texts – or would he toast with a goblet of mead and join in? Because if there’s one thing we know about ol’ Shakespeare, aside from his talent for plot and poetry, it’s that he adored a bit of bawdy chaos.
Sh!t-faced Shakespeare: 15 years of debauchery
Now in its 15th year of theatrical debauchery, Sh!t-faced Shakespeare has become something of a cult classic, both in the UK and internationally. The premise is that one professional actor gets absolutely plastered, then attempts to perform a Shakespeare play alongside a sober cast determined to stick to the script (or at least a script).
This summer’s offering is Hamlet, the gloomy tale of ghosts, murder and existentialism, playing out in the cosy Leicester Square Theatre. Tucked underground in the heart of London’s West End, the venue is intimate and dimly lit, while the set, by Nicola Jones, leans into a DIY aesthetic: hand-painted backdrops and makeshift pillars that double as thrones.
The evening’s chosen drunk is Princess Donnough, who spent four hours getting wasted via a bottle of prosecco and a few healthy swigs of hard liquor. She takes on not one but two roles: the doomed Ophelia and Hamlet’s loyal confidante, Horatio. Both parts devolve into something closer to a one-woman pub cabaret, consisting of South London slang, audience flirtation and some pretty funny asides.
And yes, as anyone who’s been the designated driver or done a sober night out with friends will know, watching a very drunk person stumble through scenes can occasionally be irritating. But Donnough manages to win over the room with genuine charm and killer comedic timing.
In the sober cast, we have Jamie Sandersfield as Hamlet, played with an affable sincerity that grounds the madness. Shady Murphy cycles through multiple roles, including a delightful Gertrude. John Mitton lends a dash of gravitas (and cheek) to Claudius, while Aaron Phinehas Peters delivers a standout turn as Laertes and the crab-walking ghost of King Hamlet.
Sh!t-faced Shakespeare: slapstick and structure
A compère with a horn (he’s part ringmaster, part stage manager) stands watch over it all, ready to rein in the chaos – or crack open another beer – if the designated drunk threatens to sober up (God forbid). The show toes the line between slapstick and structure, with the cast moving through what feels like something between partially rehearsed and part improv.
There’s a sense that some jokes may be intentional, while others arise from genuine on-the-night mayhem (the ‘drunk’ is rotated each evening, which means that no two shows are the same).
Sh!tfaced-Shakespeare: not for the purists
Is it still Hamlet? Technically. The basic beats are there. But this version is loose, bordering on surreal. The famous ‘play within a play is a bit of a miss – childish and a little too chaotic. And not every joke lands. There’s perhaps an over-reliance on crudeness, which can feel a bit cheap. The audience participation bit is a standout, with a poor unsuspecting soul pulled from the crowd and made to play Polonius – in costume – death scene and all.
Read: Don’t miss in August – your monthly guide to the brightest and best arts in London
This isn’t Shakespeare for the purists (but you probably gleaned that from the title anyway). This is theatre for novelty – but novelty is usually always fun.
Sh!t-faced Shakespeare will be performed until 21 September at Leicester Square in London until 21 September.
