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VIDEOS: Director Rosie Collins Has Actors Reciting Shakespeare After Eating Hot Chili Peppers

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Remember the Cinnamon Challenge? When people with apparently nothing better to do posted YouTube videos of themselves attempting to swallow a spoonful of cinnamon? The results were not pretty.

British photographer and director Rosie Collins has taken the cruel concept a bit further with a collection of videos posted on what she calls The Chilli Channel. (Note U.K. spelling of "chille.")

"I persuade actors, singers and other cooperative crazy people to eat a super-hot chili and then perform for my camera. I do sometimes feel a bit bad while doing it but it is so funny I get over that quickly."

A look at her website, rosiecollinsphotography.com, will lead to videos of her subjects trying to sing karaoke after their snacks, but the series that started it all had actors attempting to perform Shakespeare monologues.

Here's a sampling of her collection, beginning with Alex Gwyther playing Puck from A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM after downing a a whole dried Habanero Chili.

Paul Duncan plays OTHELLO's Iago after a Bird's Eye Chili.

Finally, Sarah Milton attempts Juliet after a Bird's Eye Chili.

Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Revival of a Musical - Top 3
1. Ragtime
38.5% of votes
2. CATS: The Jellicle Ball
24.4% of votes
3. Chess
20% of votes

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