“In all it’s a risk that only a highly skilled and confident actor would take on and Taylor is both of those.”
 Theatreview, Gail Pittman, February 2015. Read full review

 “Solothello is highly enjoyable and rewarding; a bravura performance from Taylor… grab the opportunity to go and see this production.”
Theatreview, Joy Green, August 2015. Read full review

 “…SolOthello is both a highly enjoyable show, and a very useful one as it re-opened some buried questions I have regarding theatre…”
Theatreview, Gin Mabey, October 2015. Read full review 

SHAKESPEARE’S CLASSIC TRAGEDY REIMAGINED BY A CHEEKY MĀORI AND HIS MASKS

Māori Performance Mask (Te Mata Kokako o Rēhia) comes to life as Regan Taylor unfolds an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello as a solo performance.  SolOTHELLO weaves together Shakespeare’s original prose, modern English and Te Reo Māori to deliver a dynamic and cheeky interpretation of one of history’s more tragic plays.

Our adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic Othello places the tale within a Te Ao Maori context and pares back the story to focus on three aspects; character, the core story line driven by the characters very human motivations of revenge and deception and on finding the humour in this tragedy.  We place the spotlight on the characters of Iago, Rodrigo, Othello and Desdemona who are explored physically through the Māori performance mask form Te Mata Kōkako o Rēhia.  In this adaptation the war setting is maintained as the backdrop for the story and is transposed onto a battle between two far flung iwi in a timeless Aotearoa.  We bring together four specific “voices” to tell this tale; The original prose which is the language of the maskless outsider Othello, te reo Māori interspersed throughout, a quintessential colloquial Māori male voice particularly through Iago and finally Regan’s own voice of the performer, his comedic improvisation engages audience in the mechanics of the storytelling, bringing the audience on the journey and making Shakespeare’s work accessible and engaging for all.         

Performance History:

Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival                 Waikato               14-15 Feb 2015
Centrepoint, The Darkroom                        Papaioea             11-15 Aug 2015
Dannevirke Fountain Theatre                     Dannevirke         10 August 2015
TKKM o Tamaki-nui-a-rua                          Papaioea             9 August 2015
Te Marae o Hine                                               Papaioea             13 August 2015
Western Heights High School                     Rotorua                27 October 2015
Tauranga Girls High School                          Tauranga             28 October 2015
Huria Marae                                                       Tauranga             29 October 2015
Te Pou Theatre                                                  Auckland             30- 31 Oct 2015
Paruaharanui Marae Mourea                        Rotorua                9 December 2015
Te Kapehu Whetu                                             Whangarei          17 March 2016
116 Bank Sreet                                                   Whangarei          17 March 2016
Otiria Marae                                                       Kawakawa          18 March 2016