Shakespeare For Breakfast
★★★★☆ Humorous
C Aurora (Venue 6): Wed 5 – Sun 30 Aug 2026
Review by Eilidh Sim
C Theatre’s Shakespeare For Breakfast which returns to C Aurora for the whole Fringe, is a comedic play (with added breakfast) that pushes Shakespeare to newer audiences.
Appearing at the fringe since 1992, this years retelling is King Lear, staged in the form of a version of BBC TV’s Traitors. Over the production, the storyline of King Lear is played out through the characters voting each other out, and choosing who to murder.
Moments containing dialogue and monologues from Shakespeare’s original text are slotted in between whole cast songs, solo numbers, and comedic skits, which allows for easy interest if no prior knowledge of the story is known.
Shakespeare for Breakfast: Logo.
The show begins before the audience even sits down, with live piano music right at the entrance, and the famous breakfast of a coffee and a croissant upon arrival. The performance itself opens with a musical number featuring the whole cast, where they begin to touch on what will be explored throughout the production “the play where everybody dies”; in addition to making jokes hinting towards actual elements of Shakespeare’s text – for the fanatics who already know the story.
The opening number is high in energy and silly, while still staying true to the original text, which sets the tone for the rest of the performance. This fast paced and engaging energy from the cast does not falter
Director Lani Calvert’s clever adaptation ensures that the plot is easily followed. Despite the minimal scenery – a piano, two stools and screens to change behind, Calvert has managed to create the feeling of being in different places throughout the play even though the set has not been changed.
One of the elements that works really well is the decision to have Michael Gatenby as Claudia to take on the job of explaining the challenges and when it is time to make certain decisions, acting as a sort of narrator to the whole story. From this position, Gatenby is able to make clear what is happening at the precise moment and translate some of the moments which might be deemed as more complicated for some first time viewers.
distinctly different
Fraser Adams’ King Lear is hilarious, and the characterisation of this character has been done perfectly. Adams is able to portray the emotions of King Lear during his monologues, all while adding to the comedic value of the whole performance throughout the more light hearted moments. The acting choices made to distinguish between Lear and Ed are clear, as the two are so distinctly different that it is almost easy to forget that they are played by the same person.
Pauli De Pavia, who takes on the roles of Cordelia, Ed, Cornwall, and Kate Bush, is successful in adding to the light hearted and fun atmosphere presented throughout the show. Despite having mostly comedic moments, portraying the character that always gets voted out immediately, she portrays a more emotional side to all her characters through her musical numbers. Her voice has a sweet and soft quality to it, which truly transports you into the world of the play.
Flo Lunnon and Lucy Bryan as sisters Goneril and Regan, among playing many other characters, effectively bounce off each other, both wanting to betray the other, allowing for hilarity to take over in these sisterly moments. Lunnon and Bryan have successfully characterised Goneril and Regan with such realness that they are strong against the comedy, allowing their portrayal of the original text to not get lost during the performance.
While the piece is successful in bringing King Lear into a modern world, allowing any person to understand the storyline and events, the pop culture references do get confusing occasionally; in addition to a lot of the jokes possibly being missed if you do not know the reality show their adaptation is based around.
Nonetheless, Shakespeare For Breakfast is a fun filled, lighthearted retelling of one of Shakespeare’s classics, that combines the original text with just the right amount of comedy so that it does not stray from the story. The performance is enjoyable for anyone no matter their prior knowledge, and a perfect start to the day.
Running time: 50 minutes (no interval).
C aurora (main house), Lauriston Halls, 28 Lauriston Street EH3 9DJ (Venue 6).
Wednesday 5 – Sunday 30 August 2026.
Daily (Not 17): 10am.
Tickets and details: Book here at EdFringe.com.
ENDS
