London's Shakespeare's Globe Theatre is currently hosting a unique and vibrant production of William Shakespeare's early comedy, 'Love's Labour's Lost'. The play has been reimagined with a significant infusion of flamenco, an art form known for its passionate music and dance. Director Indiana Lown-Collins, whose Spanish heritage and upbringing exposed her deeply to flamenco, recognised the potential for the style to resonate within the Globe's distinctive wooden O, believing its acoustics would enhance the percussive and vocal elements.
Lown-Collins, previously a resident associate director at the Globe, explained her vision for the production. She felt 'Love's Labour's Lost', with its central themes of passion, love, and the interplay between desire and restraint, was a natural fit for flamenco. The play centres on a King and his lords who vow to abstain from women, only to have their resolve tested by the arrival of a foreign princess and her ladies. Lown-Collins highlights how flamenco's expressive nature, particularly in conveying 'sex and death', aligns perfectly with the play's emotional landscape.
A key aspect of the production is its emphasis on strong female characters, a characteristic Lown-Collins sees as integral to the 'matriarchy' at the heart of flamenco. The staging visually reinforces this, with the female characters actively encroaching upon and challenging the male characters. To achieve this dynamic, the cast, which includes professional flamenco dancers Pablo Egea and Anita La Maltesa, undergoes rigorous daily training led by choreographer Carmen Igarza. This intensive 'bootcamp' is pushing many actors out of their comfort zones, introducing them to the complex rhythms and physical demands of flamenco.
The integration extends beyond mere dance; the intricate rhythms of flamenco are also being used to reflect and enhance Shakespeare's language. Lown-Collins noted the play's abundance of rhyming couplets, finding that the flamenco rhythms can serve as a compelling counterpoint to the verbal dexterity. Composers Michael McMahon and Adrián Solá, both flamenco guitarists, are part of the on-stage company, alongside musicians including singer Carlos Lobo Cordón, ensuring an authentic musical foundation. This fusion aims to bring a visceral, physical dimension to what is often considered one of Shakespeare's most intellectually 'wordy' plays, engaging the audience on both an emotional and cerebral level.
The production is a testament to the Globe's ongoing commitment to presenting Shakespeare in innovative ways, drawing on diverse cultural influences to illuminate the enduring relevance of his works. By pairing the linguistic richness of 'Love's Labour's Lost' with the raw emotional power of flamenco, Lown-Collins seeks to create an experience that is both intellectually stimulating and deeply physical, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in a unique theatrical spectacle.