FOOLS ISLAND

Fools Island is a one man show, written and performed by consummate Shakespearean actor, Darren Gilshenan.

Gilshenan, along with co-writer Chris Harris, didn’t actually write a single word of this play – they scoured Shakespeare’s body of work and copied and pasted their favourite bits. The result is Shakespeare for the modern day.

“For me it was about creating a one man show that was combining my two passions, the love of physical slapstick comedy and mixing with Shakespeare’s language,” says Gilshenan.

Gilshenan has acted in 17 plays with Bell Shakespeare and has often played the clown. In Fools Island he brings his experience to his own production.

The play centres around two of Shakespeare’s iconic characters,’ Gooden’ the clown and ‘Badden’ the villain. “It’s a patchwork quilt of lots of different Shakespeare’s characters,” says Gilshenan.

“It’s definitely got something in it for everyone. It’s overtly a fun comedy clown show as we begin and then it becomes very twisted and dramatic as we get to the back end of it. So it really does reach across a vast range of feelings and experiences,” says Gilshenan.

Directed by Jo Turner, this is the first play of the season for the Tamara Rock Surfers Theatre Company, in a brand new venue, the Bondi Pavilion Theatre.

This tale of love, lust, revenge and comedy will no doubt be as adventurous and exciting as it sounds.

Mar 29-Apr 23, The Bondi Pavilion Theatre, $21-33, 8019 0282, www.rocksurfers.org