EDINBURGH 2016: BWW Q&A - Rhapsodes

BWW speaks to Adam Meggido about 2016 Edinburgh Fringe show Rhapsodes.

Tell us a bit about Rhapsodes

Adam Meggido and Sean McCann will improvise a Shakespearean play inspired by the lives of people in the audience - with all the wit, wordplay, language and imagery of the great Bard. Yes, that means in iambic pentameter. Furthermore, the two performers will compete against each other as they do this. Only one can be crowned Rhapsode. The audience decides. Each performer has to win over the crowd by raising their game and meeting increasingly difficult improvised challenges. It's all inspired by the poetic competitions of Ancient Athens.

It sounds like you've set yourselves quite the challenge...

You bet. Not just improvising Shakespeare, but aiming to improve upon the original!

And you're no strangers to the Fringe?

This is our ninth Fringe in a row. We come up every year with Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, which won an Olivier Award earlier this year - the first improvised show ever to do so. And we have previously appeared here with The School Of Night.

How involved are the audience?

It's all about the audience, so they are very involved - although we can assure you there is no awkward, embarrassing audience participation!

Who would you recommend comes to see Rhapsodes?

If you like Shakespeare this is a must-see show. If you don't like Shakespeare then you should definitely see it as it deconstructs and plays fast and loose with the bard. So - anyone who likes or dislikes Shakespeare. I guess that's everyone. There. Everyone should see this show. (And fans of improv, poetry, spoken word, vaudeville and comedy. I think that just about covers it!)

Timings and ticket information for Rhapsodes are available on the edfringe website.

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