I recently watched a modern version of Shakespeare's 'Cymbeline' at The Globe called 'Imogen'. Even the name of the production made the performance better because Imogen is a more common name in today's era compared to Cymbeline which would have been more common during Shakespeare's time. The themes in the show were very relatable, in fact one of the most relatable things in young audiences perspectives was probably the casts costumes. All the characters were dressed in either 'Nike' or Adidas' branding (depending on what side they were on). This alone made the production a lot more modern, along with modern music such as Skepta's 'Shut Down'. The relatability made the entire performance more entertaining because it meant that Shakespeare's language became less foreign to the audience (and personally, I found that I barely even noticed a huge difference in the Shakespearean language compared to today's language). This is unlike a traditional version of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' that I have previously watched. I found the play interesting to watch because of the magical element to the storyline but found it difficult to decode the language.
In addition, the technology and effects used in Imogen were also very sleek and professional which would have differed from a Shakespearean play in Elizabethan England or the traditional style of one. For example, Imogen used strobe and the cast bungy jumping during the fight scene. This was really interesting to watch and unlike anything I've ever seen in any production. By doing this, there was always a rush of energy and adrenaline that the audience could experience with the actors on stage. Another thing that made Imogen stand out was the fact that there was naturalist acting used throughout the play rather than a more melodramatic style which can often be the case with Shakespeare's work. Because of the natural, relatable atmosphere that was created, the audience could grasp an intimate understanding of each character and their struggle in the context that it was presented to them in.
Taken from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMHvEHksHIM
Taken from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c9RpRU38So
I also watched a modern version of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' which focused in the comedy within the text and how they could relate that to a modern audience. The cast's costumes were also more on the modern side. However, A Midsummer Night's Dream' is rather on the fantasy side and so it's not as technical as other shows can be. However, no plays have been as clear as Imogen was.
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