Review: Comedy of Errors Remixed, The Courtyard Theatre

Intermission Youth Theatre once again delivers work that is bold in its storytelling, precise in its craft, and deeply resonant with contemporary London life. Comedy of Errors Remixed marks Stephanie Badaru’s remarkable directing debut, proving that when community meets theatre, the results can be nothing short of exhilarating.

From the outset, the show establishes a thrilling interplay between Shakespeare’s text and modern speech. Key lines, such as the recurring “Liberties of sin” are repurposed by the chorus as a musical motif, creating a lyrical through-line that bridges Elizabethan English and today’s London without diluting either. Darren Raymond’s adaptation excels in this balance. Instead of treating Shakespeare as untouchable, he uses it as a springboard for invention, marrying original language with contemporary vernacular so that the young cast can tell a classic story in a voice that feels authentically their own.

Rather than simply modernising Shakespeare, the creative team uses comedy as a fearless tool to interrogate immigration, belonging, and life lived under constant scrutiny. The production understands that reinterpretation is not about updating a play for relevance but about letting it breathe in the present moment.

One of the most effective additions is the expanded series of “lessons”: instructions on how to behave in order to belong; how to perform the perfect wife, how to avoid the wrong kind of attention. Raymond gives these moments far more space than in the original, and the choice pays off. They heighten the humour while sharpening the emotional stakes, offering insight into the impossible expectations placed on people who must constantly prove they deserve to stay in the place they call home.

The struggles of the twin pairs, Anthony and Dominique and their London-based counterparts, are rendered with striking poignancy. Though the structure leans into farce, with missed encounters and escalating confusion, the production never loses sight of the emotional core. These characters aren’t just navigating comic mishaps; they are navigating systems that demand performance and assimilation. The ‘sliding doors’ quality of their near-meetings becomes a delightful engine for humour, but one that always sits alongside a deeper examination of identity and survival.

Central to the production’s impact is the exceptional chorus of seven actors who remain onstage throughout. They function variously as narrators, commentators, and guides, offering clarity and humour while shaping the emotional and visual landscape. Their physical precision is extraordinary: they move as a single organism when needed, yet each retains an expressive individuality that enriches the storytelling. Rather than serving as mere background, they operate almost as a living set, one that responds, listens, and transforms.

The chorus is also vital in communicating the production’s exploration of belonging. The opening sequence, in which they voice the testimonies of immigrants explaining why they should be allowed to remain in this country, is among the show’s most affecting moments. It signals immediately that this will be a comedy unafraid of difficult, contemporary questions: Who is permitted to belong? Who must justify their presence? Who has the authority to decide? Throughout the play, the chorus members reveal themselves to be funny, vulnerable, compassionate, and sharp. Their continued visibility pushes back against the flattening, dehumanising narratives often imposed on migrants and asylum seekers. Even at the height of mistaken-identity chaos, the production never loses sight of the human cost of displacement.

Comedy of Errors Remixed succeeds brilliantly as both entertainment and social commentary. It is a vibrant, imaginative reworking of Shakespeare’s farce that uses humour to illuminate pressing contemporary issues. With its exceptional ensemble and sincere engagement with questions of belonging, this production demonstrates how classic stories gain renewed power when retold through fresh eyes and lived experience.

Written by Darren Raymond
Directed by Stephanie Badaru
Produced by Lilli Lehmann
Associate Director Federay Holmes
Company Stage Manager Sofia Zaragoza
Production Stage Manager Myanna Haye
Production Manager Jasmin Meara Wall
Set Designer Constance Villemot
Lighting Designer Rajiv Pattani
Costume Designer Sheree Paton
Sound Designer Pierre Flasse
Costume Supervisor Bolu Dairo

Comedy of Errors Remixed plays at The Courtyard Theatre until Saturday 20 December.