Othello / Ukraine / Facebook

DESCRIPTION OF THE PERFORMANCE:

We all know that after William Shakespeare passed away there hasn’t been a single copyright manuscript left! Only copies of copies. The facts of his biography are obscene and contradictory. Real William Shakespeare from Stradford-on-Avon, a London-based actor, had no education, while the plays of the Great Bard contained the latest information from the fields of knowledge from history and philosophy to navigation and cartography, and his vocabulary is about 12 thousand words - it's a record among all the geniuses of literature! Not surprisingly, the searches for real William Shakespeare were continuing for centuries. Someone believes that he was a playwrighter Christopher Marlow, someone is convinced - it could not be one person! There are theories of collective authorship: a group of writers led by a philosopher Francis Bacon or a Count Spouse - Roger and Elizabeth Retland.

Fortunately, at the end of 2018, British scientists have clearly established that under the pseudonym "William Shakespeare" were writting Pavlo Arie and Marina Smilyanets, actors of the theater "Golden Gate" and director Stas Zhyrkov. You think this theory is unlikely? Okay, we hope you have evidence to refute it. Because we have a performance called "Othello / Ukraine / Facebook", which proves this fact. In the end, there is always a bit of truth and lies - this is a question of our faith, not facts, documents or material evidence. If you believe in Chupacabra, Santa Claus or Harry Potter, it means that they exist, maybe in a parallel universe? For example, in Facebook. Or in a different social network. So please do not forget to check your friendlist and messenger before the show! Find time to comment on something important. For example that sentimental post by your former classmate about his best memories from childhood. Or, just for the fun of it, to make a repost of an Onion article.

Here’s fragment of an unidentified manuscript, which probably belongs to William Shakespeare: "Othello sits there, and then he suddenly gets the following sms:" Follow the white rabbit." He ran and then there’s Morphis. Othello looks at him and thinks - is it me, is it not me? It was just that since childhood he was told that he is similar to Lawrence Fishbourne. And then Morfius gives him two pills - blue and red. Blue was a paracetamol, and red was to strangle Desdemona. He swallows the red one. An then in the Matrix, in the form of the Black Panther he strangles Desdemona."

What are the most important things you should know about this performance? It is not the "Othello". It is a bloomer, satire, shame, politics, humour and hunger. A term "fake" became a starting point of the work on the performance. What is true and what is fake now in reality in which we don't say Hi to people with whom we're friends on Facebook? Politics – fake, love – fake, even Othello – fake. Seven actors from Zoloti Vorota, with their own hands, bodies, voices, create a fresco of contemporary times – at first it makes you laugh but then, surprise – it makes you sad.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

The theatre was founded in 1979 as the Theatre of Poetry, and in 1990 was renamed Golden Gate after the historical building in Kyiv where one of its major plays premiered. In 2014 a young Ukrainian director, Stas Zhirkov, headed the theatre and changed it radically with the help of a new creative team. Its development took a turn in the direction of cooperation and exchange with progressive European theatre. Ksenia Romashenko, who has been with the creative team since 2014, has lead the theatre since 2019. The Golden Gate Theatre continues to adhere to the principles of openness and raise topical social issues in its performances. It supports young directors, actors, playwrights, and each year revitalises its repertoire with sensitive and relevant topics to remain interesting for its modern audience.

The event is supported by Ukrainian Institute.