The ground-breaking and pioneering theatre makers, Forced Entertainment have announced a return to UK stages this Autumn/Winter following their 40th anniversary season in 2024.This month they are touring their enduringly popular condensed versions of some of Shakespeare’s iconic plays, creating lovingly made miniatures played out on a one metre table top using a collection of ordinary everyday objects.

Tim Etchells said: ‘The table top Shakespeare pieces are pretty unusual in the body of our work but they’re a fantastic introduction to the playful performer-led approach we have – really accessible and dynamic tellings of the Shakespeare stories in everyday language that really open things up and connect for audiences. What we love also is that the low level puppetry we use in the project – everyday domestic objects are arranged on the table top and used as stand-ins for the characters – is both ridiculous and comical, and at the same time serious and truly effective theatrically.’

Each work re-tells the story of a Shakespeare play. A performer sits at a table and using a collection of household objects as stand-ins for the characters explores the dynamic force of storytelling in a simple, unique and highly accessible way. Selected Works: Table Top Shakespeare will tour to venues across the North of England including Sheffield Theatres (10-12 Nov), Cast, Doncaster (13 & 14 Nov), Barnsley Civic (17 -19 Nov) and Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot (26 – 28 Nov.

For tickets and further information, please check out Forced Entertainments website.

Production photographs (c) Hugo Glendinning