Measure For Measure
From April to June 2012, Shakespeare’s Globe brought theatre companies from around the world to perform all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in 37 languages. The Globe to Globe season was part of the World Shakespeare Festival for the London 2012 Festival.
Measure for Measure is no longer available but you can still see some of the Globe to Globe plays featured on The Space.
MEASURE FOR MEASURE (MERA ZA MERU)
Performed in Russian by Moscow’s Vakhtangov Theatre.
(with English subtitles)
THE COMPANY
The Vakhtangov Theatre, named after the Soviet actor and director Eugene Vakhtangov, is at the heart of Moscow both geographically and theatrically. From humble beginnings in 1913, the company, which began in basements and front rooms, grew to inhabit one of Moscow’s most beautiful theatres. A controversial production of Hamlet in 1932 drew the public’s attention to the company. In 1987, they staged a play which had been banned for decades, about signing a 1917 peace treaty with Germany.This is their first visit to the UK.
THE PLAY
The drama is set in Vienna, where the Duke’s deputy Angelo takes the reins of power and decides to crack down on fornication in the city. Claudio, who has had pre-marital sex with his fiancee, falls foul of this, and his sister Isabella pleads for his life. Angelo tries to blackmail her into sleeping with him, but she refuses. The Duke has been secretly observing Angelo and teaches him a lesson with a deft last minute switch.
PRINCIPAL CAST AND CREW
Vicentio/Angelo: Sergey Epishev
Isabella: Evgeniya Kregzhde
Juliet: Maria Berdinskikh
Lucio: Oleg Lopukhov
Director: Yury Butusov
Composer: Faustas Latenas
Choreographer: Nikolay Reutov