Bold, vital and breathtaking, All is But Fantasy is an expansive exploration of four iconic Shakespearean characters. Their stories are told through the medium of frenetic gig-theatre, with music and text composed by (and starring) award-winning director Whitney White. The four characters are split across two plays - one featuring Lady Macbeth and Emilia from Othello, the other spotlighting Juliet and Richard III. 

Director, actor and musician Whitney White takes centre stage in both plays - under the universal moniker of ‘Woman’. Her directorial voice is as powerful as her singing, and she adopts a conversational relationship with her audience, effortlessly moving between snippets of original Shakespeare and pensive analysis, before paraphrasing and reframing the words and slipping into song. 

The stories are framed in a casual, ‘rehearsal room’ style, and are accompanied by an ever-present live band, with Musical Director Tom Knowles on piano, Nick Lee on guitar, Chevelle Frazer-Rose on bass and Féz Oguns on drums. The music bleeds into the text seamlessly, not only thanks to the skill of the performers, but also the essential and effortless sound design by Tony Gayle. 

All is But Fantasy asks big questions - who is unquestionably permitted to portray these audacious characters? And why do the biggest, boldest and most aspirational parts for women in Shakespeare’s plays rarely survive Act Five?

Woven into this deep exploration of The Bard - which is somehow irreverent and reverential at the same time - is White’s experience as a Black woman, confronting and questioning the nature of womanhood and masculinity, of Blackness and whiteness. 

To help tell the tale, White has called on the power of the supernatural - the three witches of Macbeth, played by the effervescent Renée Lamb, Georgina Onuorah and Timmika Ramsay. Each brings a distinct style and presence to the stage, but the trio also melt into seamless, jammy harmonies - backing singers who offer support to the various leading characters.

In opposition to Whitney White’s ‘Woman’ is Daniel Krikler as ‘Man’. He’s got a very difficult job to do - dancing a line that sees him sometimes utterly objectionable, and sometimes irresistible. He takes on the male roles which shape, assault and are antagonists to Shakespeare’s women.

Sometimes shocking, but always lyrical and thought-provoking, All is But Fantasy is rightfully at home at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s boundary-pushing venue, The Other Place. The two plays can be enjoyed as a double-bill, across one day or two, or as individual, fully formed productions. One thing is sure - they’ll get audiences talking. 

Five Stars

All is But Fantasy was reviewed by Jessica Clixby on Wednesday 4 February at the RSC’s The Other Place, where it shows until Saturday 21 February.