“Titus Andronicus” may not be for the weak of heart, but director Low Yee Choy, of local performing arts group ‘lowercase laboratories’, has figured out a unique way to let the play’s gorier aspects blossom on stage.
His take on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy will use flowers to symbolise violence.
“I’ve always been drawn to natural elements. And I love watching interesting juxtapositions on stage. So to combine the violence with flowers, which are usually associated with peace and gentleness, it felt really interesting,” Low told FMT Lifestyle.
“Shakespeare uses flower imagery in ‘Titus Andronicus’. So our characters will have plants and flowers on them, which will be destroyed as their life force is affected.”
Low said he had been inspired by the Shakespeare Globe’s 2022 production of the same play, which had used candles to represent a character’s lifeforce.
“titus andronicus” (the lowercase is intentional, in keeping with lowercase laboratories’ concept) tells the story of the title character, a Roman general who returns from a war. Titus has captured Tamora, the Queen of the Goths, and sacrifices her eldest son to avenge his own sons who were killed in battle.
Distraught, Tamora and her allies plot revenge against Titus, who retaliates, and all their actions result in grievous and gory consequences. Who says Shakespeare’s plays are dull?
The play features Phraveen Arikiah, Dexter Zhen, Mia Sara Shauki, Yusuf Amin, Farah Rani, Qahar Aqilah, Mia Sabrina Mahadir, Kamini Senthilathiban, Tharanii Karthigesu and Alfred Loh. Dinesh Kumar Maganathan serves as dramaturg, with Bee Shayne as floral curator.
Why take on Titus?
Low said that many of his previous productions had been devised pieces (such as last year’s ‘so happy I could die’) and he wanted to challenge himself by taking on a classic text. The larger-than-life drama of “Titus Andronicus” intrigued him, and he was inspired to stage it in a unique way.
“I think that’s what theatre is all about. Presenting you with things that you don’t always see in your life,” the director said.
It has also been some time since a full Shakespeare production has been performed here, and Low hoped to fill a niche in the local arts scene.
One striking aspect about Low’s production will be its seating: audiences will be seated on the floor (with accessible seating options available upon request) in a square in the middle of the stage, as the action happens all around them.
“There will be different characters doing different things at different places. So the audience will have to choose what they want to see. This is something Netflix and the cinema can’t do!” Low said with a laugh.
The production also combines beauty and brutality by incorporating real, dead, and dried flowers into its set, props and costumes, which Low said he hoped would result in a truly striking visual experience.
The violence of “titus andronicus” may be off-putting to some, but to Low, the conflicts in Shakespeare’s story bear a striking resemblance to many global crises occurring today.
“We see how everything stems back to one decision, one ideology, which led to all the problems existing. And the question is, is the only way to solve these disputes through violence?” Low mused.
“I hope as people watch this, they think about what they see happening. Who is actually at fault for what happens? Can we really see everything in black and white? Personally, I don’t think so. In the end, people will do all they can to survive.”
‘titus andronicus’
Venue
Blackbox, Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC)
H-01, Empire Damansara,
Jalan PJU 8/8, Damansara Perdana,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Date & Time:
Aug 15-18 @ 8.30pm
Aug 17-18 @ 3pm
Ticket Prices:
RM78 (Standard), RM65 (Bulk purchase of four tickets, opening night), RM55 (student bulk)
Tickets can be purchased here. For more information, follow lowercase laboratories on Instagram.