Born With Teeth

Last Wednesday, the Sixth Form English students took a trip to the Wyndham Theatre in Charing Cross to see the historical fiction Born With Teeth. Written by Liz Duffy Adams, the play explores the relationship between two of the most influential English playwrights from the 16th Century - Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare.

With the two figures being extremely significant in the canon of English literature, and Shakespeare’s Othello being one of the texts studied at A-level, the play not only provided entertainment but also contained valuable information to further our A-level knowledge. It gave us insight into the society within which these playwrights lived, as well as the rumours of espionage and possible homosexual relations between the two. Additionally, the play explored Shakespeare’s life story - for instance, we found out that Marlowe was a much more successful playwright than Shakespeare during their early careers. These bits of information gave us valuable context to frame Shakespeare’s works in, whilst leaving room for discussion and speculation, which is important to help us form our own opinions.

The play was also fascinating from a theatrical perspective. Featuring just two actors - Ncuti Gatwa and Edward Bluemel - Liz Duffy Adams worked with this restriction, showcasing her prowess as a writer through the use of staging, music, lighting and costumes to create an exhilarating experience. The actors filled the theatre with life, truly embodying their characters and making us feel the presence of Marlowe and Shakespeare despite over 400 years of history separating us from them - the sophisticated dialogue and allusions to the works of the respective playwrights added to this incredible atmosphere.

In conclusion, seeing this play was not only an enjoyable experience but an educational one. As well as enriching our understanding of the context behind Shakespeare’s works, the play brought up a variety of thought-provoking points, and all this was wrapped up in a finely crafted performance. We went home enlightened, with hordes of new ideas ready to discuss in our next English lesson.

Writer: Adam (Year 13)

Editor: Ben (Year 13)

Image: Muha Ajjan - Unsplash