‘Is there a reason you’re staring at me?’

A slight costume and lighting change is all that is needed for Lexi Wolfe to embody a different Shakespearean figure. From bringing to life the brazen and empowered Lady Macbeth to the scattered and ruminating Hamlet, we glimpse new angles found in well-trodden stories. Slade Wolfe Enterprises Limited’s one-woman retelling of the fates of famous Shakespearean faces after the curtain falls is a riveting exploration into the psyches of some of his most beloved and loathed characters.

We are first drawn into a tavern setting, chatted to by a rambling hooded figure drunkenly spilling secrets of battle scars. If you aren’t well-versed in Henry V you might struggle to follow the storyline of King Hal and interwoven textual references. All the same, the intimacy of a drunken chat between audience and character is more than enough to hook the crowd. As Wolfe interacts with the audience with well-timed comedic quips and drunken chats, a connection is formed between audience and actor. This conversational feel allows us to connect with these characters, what can be harder to achieve in a larger scale production.

When Wolfe transitions to Hamlet, pastel blue lighting indicates character changes without needing to change the scenery. We are plunged into Hamlet’s precarious grip on reality and stream-of-consciousness reflections. Well-timed moments of humour more than land with the audience, who are attentive and absorbed in Wolfe’s storytelling. The imaginative writing is eloquent enough to emulate Shakespeare’s voice while entertaining a contemporary audience. We see Hamlet poke fun at his ‘overdramatic’ actions, whilst a more sombre cyclical narrative sees him trapped in a loop of mental anguish.

Through the simple but effective costume change of a grey dress, we are introduced to Portia as she speaks to her deceased father, longing for more than a fleeting taste of freedom. With a switch flicked to a Scottish accent, Wolfe is instantly recognisable as the infamous Lady Macbeth. She begins by declaring ‘I never lost my mind’ – very quickly refuting her accepted narrative. While some line deliveries felt overly exaggerated and theatrical, the exploration of Lady Macbeth’s true reason for her ‘madness’ was creative and well-executed.

An immersive delight for children and adults alike, ‘After Shakespeare’ skilfully shines a new light on literature’s most scrutinised characters.

‘After Shakespeare‘ is at theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall – Theatre 1 until Sat 23 Aug 2025 at 16:15