You're Bard

On Tuesday, 19 May, the Brighton Open Air Theatre on Dyke Road is hosting a production called You’re Bard as part of the Brighton Fringe lineup. Created by IK Productions, this isn't a standard Shakespeare performance where you just sit back and watch. Instead, the audience holds the remote control for the entire evening. From the moment the show starts at 7:45 PM, those in attendance get to decide which of Shakespeare’s plays will be performed, what genre the actors should tackle, and exactly which cast members will take on specific roles. It’s a setup designed around unpredictability, with the company noting that there are over a million different ways the performance could actually play out.

The show runs for about 105 minutes and leans heavily into the chaotic side of theatre. Because the actors don't know what they'll be doing until the audience makes its choices, the focus is on how they handle the pressure of improvising within the structure of classic texts. It has been highlighted in local press, such as The Argus, for its interactive nature, moving away from the traditional hushed silence of a theatre and encouraging more vocal participation from the crowd. It’s a bit of a departure from the usual way these plays are staged, focusing more on the comedy that comes from the actors trying to keep up with the audience's demands in real-time.

For those planning to head up to the BOAT, the performance is scheduled for a 7:45 PM start. Tickets are priced at £12 for general admission, with a £10 concession rate available. While it’s a Shakespeare-based show, it is aimed at a broad audience, including families and younger viewers; the age guidance is generally set for those aged seven and up, though some sources mention six plus. Since it’s an outdoor venue, the atmosphere usually depends on the evening weather, but the interactive format of You’re Bard means the energy stays fairly high regardless of the specific play that ends up being chosen on the night.