Shakespeare fans “roll up roll up” – thou art in for The Tempest of treats.  The young British theatre company, The Faction, have refashioned, revved up, edited, Selfridges-styled and speared Much Ado About Nothing into the 21st century – much like Alessandro Michele’s influence on Gucci.

Popping a pop-up theatre in the basement of Selfridges is poetry to one’s ears.  Sampling Roja Parfums: A Midsummer Dream, eau de parfum – a snip at only £295 – while passing through the perfumery.  Then straddling the escalator to the lower deck – a quick whizz through Conran and Danish design brand Hay, followed by a spot of wick sniffing in Jo Malone – all before parking your derrière in the contemporary mini-catwalk 122-seat auditorium.

You wouldn’t produce a production of Romeo, and no Juliet – so why a theatre and no bar?  #justsayin

Director Mark Leipacher and Co-director Rachel Valentine Smith have sharpened William’s comedy of confused love, slander and tell-tales with news bulletins, Kooples clobber, an enthusiastic, flowery and playful cast thrown in with some horny, animalistic line-dancing.  The story is clear and punchy.  They’ll be no “wherefore art thou amusement” – the humour is as fresh as the dark amber and ginger lily emanating from the defusers in Selfridges Ultra Lounge.

“The course of true love never did run smooth” – but Shakespeare, Selfridges and The Faction is no question, to be.

Published by TheGayUK Magazine

From Aug 23rd to Sep 24th 2016

Book tickets at Selfridges

From Aug 23rd to Sep 24th 2016

Selfridges, 400 Oxford St , W1A 1AB London