Un-Shakesperian Shakespeare

by Sean Graham

A troupe of actors put on a comedic adaptation of three of Shakespeare's most famous works, one from each genre: Richard III, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream. However, this isn't any retelling of Shakespeare, the troupe of actors purposefully translate Shakespeare's language into everyday English so all can appreciate the Bard's work. Along the way the actors discover the humor and humanity of Shakespeare's...

A troupe of actors put on a comedic adaptation of three of Shakespeare's most famous works, one from each genre: Richard III, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream. However, this isn't any retelling of Shakespeare, the troupe of actors purposefully translate Shakespeare's language into everyday English so all can appreciate the Bard's work. Along the way the actors discover the humor and humanity of Shakespeare's work. This is a work in progress and still being edited and added to.

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Un-Shakesperian Shakespeare

Character Information

With the exception of Alex, Taylor, and Know-It-All, many roles may be doubled, allowing one actor to play multiple characters.
  • QUINCE
    Carpenter and director of the mechanicals play.
  • MALCOLM
    Eldest son of King Duncan. Flees to England to raise an army to overthrow Macbeth.
  • DONALBAIN
    Second son of King Duncan. Flees to Ireland.
  • LADY MACBETH
    Macbeth's manipulative and power hungry wife.
  • PORTER
    Castle door person at Macbeth's castle.
  • MACDUFF
    Thane of Fife and loyal advisor of King Duncan's.
  • FLEANCE
    Son of Banquo. Non speaking role.
  • FIRST MURDERER
    Macbeth's hired assassins sent to kill Banquo and Fleance.
  • SECOND MURDERER
    Macbeth's hired assassins sent to kill Banquo and Fleance.
  • FIRST GUEST
    Guest at Macbeth's banquet.
  • GENTLEWOMAN
    Lady in waiting to Lady Macbeth.
  • MESSENGER
    Macbeth's army messenger.
  • SONNET READER
    Reads Sonnets to audience during part of the intermission, before Act 2.
  • HERMIA
    Daughter of Egeus and in love with Lysander, but sought by Demetrius and encouraged to marry him by her father.
  • LYSANDER
    Athenian nobleman who loves Hermia.
  • HELENA
    Athenian woman who loves Demetrius, but is spurned by him.
  • CAWDOR
    Thane who is executed. Non-speaking role.
  • BOTTOM
    A weaver who is incredibly confident in their acting abilities, although is incompetent. Later turns into a donkey and becomes Titania's love interest.
  • FLUTE
    A bellows-mender and member of the mechanicals play.
  • ROBIN
    A tailor and member of the mechanicals play.
  • SNUG
    A joiner and member of the mechanicals play.
  • ACTOR WHO PLAYS SNOUT
    Plays Snout, a tinker, and begins the play with the mechanical, but is later incapacitated and has to be backfilled by KNOW-IT-ALL.
  • TITANIA
    Queen of the fairies and Oberon's wife.
  • OBERON
    King of the fairies and Titania's husband.
  • PUCK
    A mischievous fairy and faithful servant to Oberon.
  • DEMETRIUS
    Athenian nobleman who also loves Hermia and is supported by Hermia's father, Egeus.
  • THESEUS
    Duke of Athens and engaged to Hippolyta.
  • HIPPOLYTA
    Queen of the Amazons and engage to Theseus. Non-speaking role.
  • EGEUS
    Father of Hermia and arranger of her potential marriage to Demetrius.
  • SHAKESPEARE OFFICER
    Lead officer of the Loyal Shakespeare Company.
  • OFFICERS
    Officers in the Loyal Shakespeare company. Non-speaking roles.
  • TYRREL
    Assassin hired by Richard to kill the princes, sons of King Edward.
  • TAYLOR
    Additional narrator, and the audience's connection to the stories.
  • STUDENT
    Archetypical high school English student.
  • RICHARD
    Dastardly brother of King Edward who seeks the crown.
  • GEORGE
    Brother to Richard and Edward who is next in the line of succession.
  • GUARD 1
    Escort of George's to the Tower of London.
  • GUARD 2
    Escort of George's to the Tower of London.
  • ANNE
    Widow of former heir to the throne for the house of Lancaster, who was killed by Richard. Future wife of Richard.
  • TIM
    Assassin hired by Richard to kill George.
  • BOB
    Assassin hired by Richard to kill George.
  • KING EDWARD
    Richard's brother, the king.
  • QUEEN ELIZABETH
    Edward's wife.
  • BUCKINGHAM
    Dimwitted, but loyal, political ally who helps Richard attain the crown in exchange for titles and gold.
  • FARMER
    Invited to view Richard's PR stunt.
  • MERCHANT
    Invited to view Richard's PR stunt.
  • BLACKSMITH
    Invited to view Richard's PR stunt.
  • ALEX
    Chief narrator.
  • PRINCE OF WALES
    The eldest son of King Edward. Appear as ghosts.
  • PRINCE OF YORK
    The youngest son of King Edward. Appear as ghosts.
  • GHOSTS
    6 ghosts representing Prince Edward, King Henry, Clarence, Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan.
  • RICHMOND
    Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond. Living in exile in France when he receives a note from Queen Elizabeth that Richard has taken the crown and must be stopped.
  • SOLDIER
    A member of Richmond's army.
  • KNOW-IT-ALL
    Knows everything about Shakespeare and becomes quite upset with the play and it's lack of continuity with the source material.
  • MACK
    In-world light board operator.
  • MACBETH
    Thane of Gamis and future king of Scotland.
  • BANQUO
    Friend of Macbeth's and general in King Duncan's army.
  • FIRST WITCH
    Prophesies Macbeth's future.
  • SECOND WITCH
    Prophesies Macbeth's future.
  • THIRD WITCH
    Prophesies Macbeth's future.
  • KING DUNCAN
    Current King of Scotland.
  • GUARDS
    King Duncan's personal guards. Non- speaking role.

Development History

  • Reading, International Bilingual School at Central Taiwan Science Park, 2024

Production History

  • High School, International Bilingual School at Central Taiwan Science Park, 2025