Shakespeare in the Squares’ ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’ review
Enjoy a summer’s night out watching a fun and frivolous Shakespeare play in one of London’s iconic public squares.
Image courtesy of Shakespeare in the Squares
Every summer, Shakespeare in the Squares embarks on a tour of London’s garden squares to bring one of the Bard’s iconic plays to life. Now in its tenth year, its 2026 production of ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’ is a joyful celebration of music, storytelling and community.
‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’ is one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known comedies but bears all the hallmarks of the genre: miscommunication, mistaken identify and the hapless pursuit of love.
It opens as the King of Navarre and his men sign an oath committing them to three years of study and swearing off the company of women. As the men settle into their new life of celibacy and philosophy,the Princess of France arrives on diplomatic business with her ladies-in-waiting. Despite asking the women to camp outside of the court, it isn’t long before King Navarre and his companions find themselves charmed and desperate to disregard their previous declarations.
Toby Gordon’s energetic production has trimmed the play to a punchy two hours – just enough to cover the essentials of the plot and with room to spare for music and dancing to an acoustic soundtrack of 60s and 70s pop classics.
The multi-talented ensemble cast play instruments, dance and sing, bringing The Charterhouse (the press night venue) to life with music and laughter. The audience is immersed in the performance as actors enter and exit through the aisles, take seats amongst the crowd and engage in light-hearted audience participation. It is a funny, charming and memorable performance.
Each of the actors seems to revel in the silliness of the show. Dexter Southern in particular is brilliant in a dual role as Don Armado and Dumain. His swaggering, exuberant performance of the Spanish Armado is very funny, and he switches tone effortlessly between the two characters. Notable also is his talent for improvisation and audience engagement, which adds to the production’s overall community feel.
Image courtesy of Shakespeare in the Squares
The challenge for Shakespeare in the Square is to create a production that can be transported to a new venue every night. Emily Stuart’s sixties style costumes give each character a striking and memorable look, a transposable touchpoint that can be easily recreated. This is also helped by a clever use of props, including dustbin lids and pots and pans in one of the final scenes when the men enter the women’s camp in disguise to perform a pageant of the Nine Worthies – historical and scriptural figures representing the ideals of chivalry – to their visitors.
Overall, this is charming, funny and lively performance that is a testament to the power of the Shakespeare in the Squares institution and community theatre. Bring a picnic, pack an umbrella and settle in for an evening of laughter and music in the open air.
Shakespeare in the Squares’ ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’ is playing at outdoor venues across London until July 12th. Find out more and buy tickets here.
Review by Ellen Hodgetts
