Shakespeare with a Dash of Chaos: Flabbergast Theatre’s Henry Maynard on Reimagining the Classics

This June, Flabbergast Theatre brings its visceral, physical reimagining of Romeo and Julietto Wilton’s Music Hall – and at the heart of it is Henry Maynard, the company’s artistic director. Known for bold adaptations that blend classical text with Lecoq-inspired physicality, clowning, and international performance styles, Maynard’s work is anything but traditional. In this interview, he reflects on how performing around the world has shaped his theatrical approach, the enduring relevance of Shakespeare, and why a little irreverence can bring new life to the classics.

How has performing and producing across the globe influenced your style of work?

I’m very interested by theatrical traditions that are different to the English. I trained in the traditional conservatoire system in the UK, which I feel gives me a strong base for Shakespeare especially, but there is far more experimentation outside of the UK that excites me. Sometimes our productions here can be over-polite, and there is a love for the talking heads style of acting rather than truly embodied performance.

How do you work to keep classics new and contemporary?

We stay fairly true to the script. We do make cuts, and sometimes we will shift the order of something if it feels appropriate. We have even on occasion reimagined some scenes physically, but we always come back to the storytelling. The transposition of action to a world away from the Elizabethan or purist ideals allows us to examine elements that sometimes get missed. We use physicality and music to transgress the mundane and enter the profane and sacred worlds of tragedy and comedy. Respect with irreverence and a dash of chaos.

How do you think Shakespeare helps us understand the world today?

It is without doubt that the plays that we attribute to Shakespeare are genius. They examine what it is to be a human and have survived centuries and multiple adaptations precisely because of this fact. Love, jealousy, hatred and grief are all the same regardless of whether your father was a Duke from Verona or a Welsh coal miner. I think that they help us to understand our world because the fundamentals of humanity haven’t shifted. Societies and certain moral attitudes may have changed, but oppression and control still exist. We still yearn, fight, play and make fools of ourselves. The plays reflect ourselves back to us.

What is the starting point for a huge project like bringing Romeo and Juliet to life?

Performing in the play. I have performed in all the Shakespeare plays that we have produced. I was in Macbeth with three different companies before we finally created our own version. I truly think it gives me an exceptional understanding of the story, and I always find myself asking myself what I would do if I was the director. After that, it is research and development with my company and ensemble. Wherever possible, we try to do residencies. I also work through design, and often the world is built around a central design element.

Is there a particular style or person who has influenced your work the most?

I am hugely influenced by the pedagogy of Jaques Lecoq, as well as the research carried out at the Grotowski Institute. I adore Mike Alfred’s book Different Every Night and the clown work of Phillipe Gaulier. We have been working in Commedia dell’Arte recently, and Butohfeatures in our research. I am a magpie for styles and influences, and I think that our work is richer for it.

What are you noticing emerging more in the creative world right now, and how does that influence your work (if at all)?

Work such as Buffon and Clown is becoming more common, which I think is great. Physical theatre being fused with naturalism I think is really exciting — I suppose that is why I am trying my best to bring that to audiences. Clowning really is about vulnerability and so can be an immensely useful tool regardless of the style of performance.

Flabbergast Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet will be at Wilton’s Music Hall from 10th – 21stJune 2025. For tickets and more information, visit: https://wiltons.org.uk/whats-on/romeo-and-juliet/