photo by Jon Primrose

"Shakespeare's Metamorphosis"

a new play adapted from the works of Ovid and Shakespeare
written and directed by Kelley Hughes

photo by Jon Primrose

Performed Friday 21 June 2002 at 7:30 pm and Saturday 22 June 2002 at 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm at Roborough Studio, University of Exeter.

Synoposis:
This MFA Staging Shakespeare production examines the real-life influence of Ovid's "Metamorphoses" on Shakespeare's plays, in a fictional tale where three muses transform young Shakespeare (the nobody) into Shakespeare the Immortal Bard.

The Scenes
1 Shakespeare and the Muses
2 The tale of Echo and Narcissus
3 The tale of Pyramus and Thisbe
4 Romeo and Juliet, Act II Scene 2
5 A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act I Scene1
6 The tale of Midas
7 A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act III Scene 1
8 The tale of Tereus and Philomela
9 Titus Andronicus, Act II Scene 4
10 Shakespeare and the Muses

The Song
"Song of Philomela"
music by H. Scott Hughes (ASCAP)
lyrics by Patricia Hughes

The Cast
CEM AHMET
as Melpomene, Echo, Thisbe, Snout, & Procne

EMILY ASHMAN
as Thalia, Juno, Emily, Snug, Daughter, Puck, & Lavina

BEN HARRISON
as Young Shakespeare, Tiresias, Quince, & Marcus

BEA HUTTON-WILLIAMS
as Calliope, Juliet, Starveling, & Philomela

SIMON LITTLE
as Pyramus, Bottom, Psychiatrist, Pandion, & Chiron

GUY SCOTT
as Narcissus, Romeo, Flute, Tereus & Demitrius

The Crew
Technical Director...........................JON PRIMROSE
Costume Director...........................ANTHEA NAKORN
Costume Designer............................LEE ANN ZAHRT
Costumer................................CATHERINE KILGOUR
Costumer......................................EMILY ZAHRT
Property Master..............................SHARON VETCH

Director's Notes
Among the direct sources of Shakespeare's works, Ovid's Metamorphoses is arguably the most influential. Roughly ninety percent of the Shakespeare's allusions to classical mythology refer to tales included in Metamorphoses. Evidence indicates that Shakespeare knew the book in both the original Latin and Arthur Golding's 1567 English translation. Clearly, Ovid was Shakespeare's favorite classic poet as he states in Love's Labour's Lost, "for the elegancy, facility, and golden cadence of poesy . . . Ovidius Naso was the man." This production is an attempt to view Shakespeare's plays within the context of Metamorphoses.

Just as physical transformation is the central theme in Metamorphoses, transformation is at the heart of Shakespeare's works. Yet, for Shakespeare transformation took many forms: physical, emotional, and spiritual. Life is a process of continual change. Like so many artists, Shakespeare drew from images in nature, literature, and the visual arts. He then transformed those elements into something new, yet with a familiar echo.

I wish to thank everyone who has guided me through this year and/or made this production possible: The MFA Program Faculty including Lesley Wade Soule, Peter Thomson, & Christopher McCullough. My fellow MA/MFA candidates. Thanks for the journey! A special thanks to Christopher Clark for his critical eye. Other drama faculty and staff including Jon Primrose, Gayatri Simons, Graham Cridland, & Carol Rolinson. The Cast and Crew who have each made their own artistic contribution to this project My brother, Scott Hughes, for providing the music. My wife, Dana Hughes, who was willing to move across the Atlantic so that I could follow my dreams. ~ Kelley Hughes

All photos by and © Kelley Hughes, 2002 (except where credited)