FringeReview caught up with George Dillon, creator of "Graft" and "The Gospel of Matthew"; the man about whom Steven Berkoff said: "...The best example of someone to watch how to perform is George Dillon…"
Breakfast in Brighton with George Dillon ! And a discussion about "The Man who was Hamlet - this was an opportunity too good to miss. Dillon is back in 2009 with his one-man performance format, something he has done so well over recent years. Dillon presents in "The Man Who Was Hamlet" a combination of many-character performance, with historical exposition exploring the "real" identity of William Shakespeare, proposing Edward de Vere as the real author of Hamlet and much (if not all) of the rest of the Bard's repertoire.
I managed to see an early version of this new production, ably directed by Denise Evans, at probably the best studio theatre space in Brighton, the New Venture Theatre.
Dillon took the square performance space and presented is in a diamond format, with audience fanned out from one corner and Dillon making full and intelligent use of the space provided by the opposite corner. This enabled him to play very effectively with an opening out the space as he story-told us through much historical detail via a mix of comedy and highly intense scene-playing as we journeyed through the a broad history as well as a biography of de Vere himself. Then Dillon would retreat into the furthest corner from us, the light dominishing, and we shared his prison cell in the Tower.
This is a piece in its early stages of development, an exciting piece of writing, witty and sharp, making delightful use of Shakespeare's own lines in ways ironic, comedic and sometimes philosophical. Dillon has created a dramaticcharger he has yet to fully mount but this is a piece in its earliest stages and, as usual, we were treated to a masterclass in delivery and individual performance. Don't miss this on tour in 2009.