Propeller is a theatre company which presents the plays of William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...

 in the UK and around the world. The director is Edward Hall

Edward Hall (director)

Edward Hall is an English theatre director and an associate director at The National Theatre. Hall is known for directing Rose Rage, a stage adaptation of Shakespeare's three Henry VI plays. He also runs an all-male Shakespeare company, Propeller...

, and the casts are exclusively male actors.

Background

In the mid 1990s, the artistic director of the Watermill Theatre

Watermill Theatre

The Watermill Theatre is an award -winning, professional repertory theatre with charitable status. It is a converted watermill with gardens beside the River Lambourn, in Bagnor, near Newbury, Berkshire, England...

, Jill Fraser, offered Edward Hall the opportunity to direct Othello

Othello

The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro" by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565...

– his first full Shakespeare play. Although a success, Hall determined to use the experience to found an all male Shakespeare company, "mixing a rigorous approach to the text with a modern physical aesthetic".

Hall has set out the rules of his company, “Everyone is paid the same (tiny) wage and if an actor has created a part in a production then they will automatically receive an offer on the next one which they can refuse or take.” The company has seen new members since its start, keeping the group fresh.

Propeller has won several theatre awards, including winner of the 1999 Barclays Theatre Award for Best Director (Edward Hall in Twelfth Night), winner of the 2002 Barclays Theatre Awards Best Touring Production for Rose Rage, winner of the 2003 TMA Theatres Best Touring Production (A Midsummer Night's Dream), winner of 2004 Jeff Award

Joseph Jefferson Awards

The Joseph Jefferson Awards are given annually by a volunteer non-profit committee to acknowledge excellence in theatre in the Chicago area. Founded in 1968, the awards are given in tribute to actor Joseph Jefferson...

 for Best Director, subsequent American production (Edward Hall in Rose Rage), winner of 2007 OBIE

Obie Award

The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards given by The Village Voice newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City...

 Award for The Taming of the Shrew.

Repertory

• Henry V
  Henry V (play)
  Henry V is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to be written in approximately 1599. Its full titles are The Cronicle History of Henry the Fifth and The Life of Henry the Fifth...
  
  (first produced in 1997)
• The Comedy of Errors
  The Comedy of Errors
  The Comedy of Errors is one of William Shakespeare's earliest plays. It is his shortest and one of his most farcical comedies, with a major part of the humour coming from slapstick and mistaken identity, in addition to puns and word play. The Comedy of Errors is one of only two of Shakespeare's...
  
  (1998)
• Twelfth Night (1999)
• Rose Rage (2001) based on the Henry VI
  Henry VI, part 1
  Henry VI, Part 1 or The First Part of Henry the Sixt is a history play by William Shakespeare, and possibly Thomas Nashe, believed to have been written in 1591, and set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England...
  
  plays
• A Midsummer Night's Dream
  A Midsummer Night's Dream
  A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play that was written by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta...
  
  (2003)
• The Winter's Tale
  The Winter's Tale
  The Winter's Tale is a play by William Shakespeare, originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, some modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some critics, among them W. W...
  
  (2005)
• The Taming of the Shrew
  The Taming of the Shrew
  The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1591.The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the Induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken tinker named Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself...
  
  (2006)
• The Merchant of Venice
  The Merchant of Venice
  The Merchant of Venice is a tragic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic...
  
  (2008)
• Richard III
  Richard III (play)
  Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified...
  
  (2010)

The company has toured throughout the UK, and to Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, China, Cyprus, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, The Philippines, Poland, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey and the USA. They have appeared at the Shakespeare festival in Neuss

Neuss

Neuss is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the west bank of the Rhine opposite Düsseldorf. Neuss is the largest city within the Rhein-Kreis Neuss district and owes its prosperity to its location at the crossing of historic and modern trade routes. It is primarily known...

, Germany.

Company

Actors who have appeared with Propeller include the following:

Dugald Bruce Lockhart

Dugald Bruce Lockhart

Dugald Bruce Lockhart is an Anglo-Scottish actor.-Background and education:Dugald Bruce Lockhart was born in 1968. His great-grandfather, J.H. Bruce Lockhart, and his great-uncles, Rab Bruce Lockhart and Logie Bruce Lockhart were all public school headmasters and all played rugby union for...

 (Petruchio, Olivia, Lysander), Tam Williams (Lucentio, Viola), Bob Barrett

Bob Barrett (actor)

Bob Barrett is an English stage and television actor who is best known for his role as Dr. Sacha Levy in the BBC1 medical drama Holby City.-Career:Bob Barrett trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He is best known for his role as Dr...

 (Baptista, Malvalio, Antonio, Bottom), Joe Flynn

Joe Flynn (UK actor)

Joe Flynn is a British actor, musician and poet. He is also known as Johnny Flynn when he fronts for the band Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit.- Personal life :...

 (Sebastian, Curtis), Richard Dempsey

Richard Dempsey

Richard Dempsey is an English actor.- Biography :Dempsey's first role was at the age of 15, when he was cast as Peter Pevensie, the lead role in the BBC's adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 1988. The following year, he appeared in the adaptation of Prince Caspian...

 (Lorenzo, Titiana), Sam Swainsbury (Salerio, Demetrius), Jon Trenchard (Jessica, Robin Goodfellow, Bianca), Jack Tarlton (Bassanio, Lysander, Hortensio, Orsino), John Dougall

John Dougall (actor)

John Dougall is a British actor. He trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He is notable for his appearances on television, radio and the stage, including Anne Boleyn and several productions for Propeller....

 (Gobbo, Flute), Robert Hands

Robert Hands

Robert Hands is a British actor based in London. He trained at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic theatre school. His career has spanned over twenty years during which time he has played leading roles in film, television, and both classical and musical theatre in London’s West End...

 (Helena), Jamie Glover

Jamie Glover

Jamie Glover is an English actor, known for portraying Andrew Treneman in Waterloo Road.-Background:Born and raised in Barnes, London, Glover is the son of actors Julian Glover and Isla Blair...

(Henry V), Dominic Tighe (Queen Elizabeth), Richard Clothier (Richard III).

External links

• The website of Propeller
• Edward Hall talks about directing the all male Shakespeare Company Propeller on The Interview Online