SPOTLIGHT ON... IZZY BUNTEN
- theatrereviews
- Aug 23
- 8 min read
Who doesn't love a bit of Shakespeare? We spoke to Izzy Bunten about the trials and tribulations of self-producing, and directing, one of the Bard's very best...
Q. Where in Lincolnshire are you based, and what was your first ever live performance that you participated in?
"We are currently based in Grimsby, but I spend most of my time in Surrey as I am studying at University down in the south. This is where I did a lot of the planning for the show during my free time in-between studying.
The first ever live performance I participated in at a local theatre was 'Annie' in 2018 at Louth Riverhead Theatre, but before that, it was the annual summer shows at my theatre group, recently renamed to C.A.T.S in Scartho which is where my passion for performing arts really started."
Q. Quite simply, give me three words that describe what theatre means to you.
"Love, fundamental, time-less."
Q. You've recently launched Bunten Productions. What production are you currently focusing on, and what is your role, other than Founder, on the forthcoming production?
"We're currently focusing on our upcoming production of a reimagined and modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream'. It’s the story and classic play you know but slightly rewritten in parts to use Modern English as well as Shakespeare's original text. Ambitious but a lot of fun to play with.
I am directing and also an actor too as Puck. This wasn’t pre-planned but quite nice it has fallen this way. As a new production company in the area, it was a lot to ask for people to trust me with putting a show together in just over a month, as a new creative embarking on their first solo project. But this cast is the dream team to work with, always giving it their all in every rehearsal and very appreciating and accepting of me finding my feet as I tackle this new adventure.
I’m kind of everyone after being a producer; I’ve thought about costume, set design, props. The audio and lighting is being handled by JT Lighting and Audio and I am very grateful for that, so that is one thing taken off my hands."
Q. What's been your biggest achievement and your biggest headache with this current project?
"The biggest achievement is having it actually happen. It started out during my final term at uni as an idea; I wasn’t thoroughly enjoying it and needed something to keep the theatre spirit inside me alive, branch out somewhere new and try something else other than the acting itself. The current headache is the cost of putting a show together that you don’t even need to spend a lot of money on the rights for. With theatre funding being very small and being taken away these days, the arts are dying and it isn’t cheap to make theatre happen but it shouldn’t be expensive or unaffordable for those who want to enjoy it, so you have to find that balance.
It’s partly the reason I have tried to keep the ticket price low. For £5, you get 90 minutes of a wonderful, magical comedy put forward by some of the area's finest actors, a lot of whom are training professionally. It’s suitable for all ages, something different to the normal summer school holiday activities you get, and it’s cheaper than even the local theatre around this area, which have great ticket prices already!"
Q. Are there any local practitioners, groups/societies or venues that you particularly look to, for inspiration?
"There’s many people just from around this area that I look up to massively. Those being my own theatre group leaders (Creative Arts Theatre School or C.A.T.S, previously known as Cats Kids in Scartho) Dave and Beccy Burns; they pushed me to keep going with performing and pursue it professionally when I wasn’t too sure and they have seen my grown as a performer from the age of just 7 or 8 and I’m 21 now so that’s a long time. I owe a lot of what I know and have learnt to them, I appreciate them more than they will know.
I also look up to John Hewer as a director, the way he runs rehearsal rooms and always brings the positive energy and infectious smile into the space is truly something I want to be able to do. For my casts and crew to take that away with them [is important to me] and if they don’t remember their lines in a few months, they will hopefully remember the positive atmosphere that surrounded them while creating this show as I believe it’s the rehearsal process you have to fall in love with, not the performance itself.
I recently had the pleasure of working alongside the creative team of ‘The Great British Bake Off’ as Louth Riverhead for their Summer Youth Workshop and the time I spent with them all (John Hewer, Chloe Goldby and Christopher Peters) was invaluable and I feel incredibly lucky to have had that oppurtunity; it gave me a lot more confidence going into the rest of rehearsals for 'Midsummer' because if they can pull it all together in 10 days, I can definitely do this show!"
Q. Your production of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'... What can audience members expect?
"Expect the unexpected. Whatever you think will happen, will most likely not happen. As this is a show that is known and loved, it’s important to not recreate what has been done before, but the best thing is, this definitely hasn’t, because this particular script has never seen the light of day.
It has been rewritten in areas to use a combination of modern english and the original Shakespeare text.
Oberon, Puck and Titania, all speak in the Shakespeare text but the remaining characters speak in Modern English, retelling the story for those who may not have grasped it first time round or simply flat out refuse to watch Shakespeare over the worry of not understanding it. I assure you, this production will clear up any misunderstanding of the plot and hopefully give you a new love for Shakespeare!
It is perfect and suitable for the whole family. It’s an abridged version of the show that runs at 90 minutes and even includes a dance number!
Do however expect love triangles, or a skew-whiff love square, puppetry, audience interaction, potions and remedies, a slightly misunderstood prologue and a whole lot of laughter."
Q. And the cast? Have you worked with them all before?
"I knew and had worked with about half of them due to local theatre productions, some of them I only knew mutually and some I didn’t know at all so it has been great to connect with other creatives in the area and to meet new people who are all just as passionate about theatre as each other.
I have only worked with Michael Parker (Bottom) once before and I was 15 performing as Bet in Oliver! with Curtain Up so it was great to get to be able to see him work his magic on stage again but this time directing him! The time has really flown as it feels like only yesterday I was hearing him sing 'My Name' on the auditorium stage.
It has been amazing working with them all though, I wouldn’t change anything for the world. From putting this cast together during auditions to our most recent rehearsal, they have all stepped into the roles perfectly and risen to whatever challenges approached them. I like to be relaxed within the rehearsal process and work with the rule, ‘If i’m not stressed, you shouldn’t be’ and I don’t get stressed (outwardly at least) very easy or often, especially when I have as much faith and trust in a cast as I have right now. I could be ill on the day, send a replacement for Puck, and I know the show would run just as smooth. I have to do a shoutout to the youngest cast member we have though, who is playing Quince: Isla-Rose Hanley for being just as, if not more than, professional as all the adults in the room. Often the adults are working harder just to get to her level. She is multi-talented, being a fabulous dancer and singer likewise, and has stepped into this role effortlessly at just 8 years old with no previous acting credits under her belt."
Q. Puck is such an indelible character. What is it about him, and the characters as a whole, that make this one of Shakespeare's finest?
"All these characters are so individual. You can leave the play knowing that no two characters were the same or overlapped which is what I feel makes this show more invigorating and inclusive than many others. You can see yourself in at least one of these characters, even if it is one of the mythical ones! The depth and duality you see in them, even in just 90 minutes really draws you in. I relate myself mostly to Helena and Puck; I feel like a hybrid of those two.
It’s a pleasure seeing them being brought to life and explored differently to how they have been portrayed famously, making this show even more individual and unique.
Puck is just a blast; mischievous, unpredictable and so free-willed that it means I can do something different every rehearsal and it wouldn't be out of the ordinary as you never know what you are going to get with that character. Although a bit clumsy and carefree, he is loyal and it makes it interesting to play around with and see how the audience respond. It is a once in a lifetime role that I will want to play again in the future when I can really put all my eggs into that Puck basket and run away and explore, but for time being, I’m Director and Puck at the same time and I’m having just as much fun."
Q. Any other Bunten Productions on the horizon? Or other projects running alongside?
"At the moment, nothing is in the works but I have had a lot of questions about what is to come next and a lot of suggestions, such as ‘PLEASE DO A MUSICAL!’ but I will need a few more years before I embark on anything like that I feel.
I am hoping to take this production, or one of a similar sort, to the Riverhead in Louth next year though nothing is set in stone yet, till then, I must focus on my studies!
I hope to do more Shakespeare in the future as it’s so fun to play with and to direct as it can be taken in many different directions. Ours is set in a school in the 80’s, but if you went to see a different production of it the week after, I promise you it could be set in outer space or it could be done in a midwestern style!
At the moment, I am open to suggestions and hope to grow my team to continue producing top quality affordable theatre."
Q. Could you give me one popular song title that describes the 'AMND' experience for the audience.
"This is so tricky as there’s literally about five and if they were mashed up it would be perfect but I’ll go with 'You Can’t Hurry Love' by Phil Collins. Runner up is ‘I Put a Spell on You’ by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins."
'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is being performed at Grimsby Central Hall on Tuesday 26th August 2025, at 5pm-6.30pm and 7.30pm-9pm. Tickets are just £5 and available via the link below:
Comments