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A brand new twist shadows Popverse's Ashley V. Robinson's return to LA Shakespeare cabaret Shakes on the Rocks
Half improvised bar Shakespeare not enough for you? This September Shakes on the Rocks in Los Angeles adds a new element to their classic format
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"For those of who have never been able to join us before, here’s the scoop," reads the email heralding Shakes on the Rocks September 2025 performance. "Two plays sit on a spinning wheel, we don’t know which one it will land on. And if that’s not enough, our actors will be assigned their roles at RANDOM. And then they do it, they do the friggin’ show."
Admit it. That sounds amazing.
'What is Shakes on the Rocks?" you might be asking. Friends, we're happy to educate. Shakes on the Rocks is, in the words of its producers, “an ongoing Shakespeare cabaret at Idle Hour that takes our conceptions of Shakespeare and type casting, then cuts the fat and throws it in a blender.” What that means in practice is that the various talented performers offers the audience the choice between two Shakespearean classics, via a wheel spin, with the winner being performed in an improvised, shortened format over the next 90 minutes.
Popverse's very own Ashley Victoria Robinson will be one of the company players taking to the stage ... the floor of a pub ... the boards? ... of The Roguelike Tavern in Burbank, CA this Saturday, September 13th.
Comedy or tragedy? Romance or philosophy? If you are able to travel September 13, oh, lover of the arts, you will be able to see Ashley perform either Hamlet or MacBeth - or something else entirely! The last time these epic tragedies were on the wheel The Scottish Play won the day. (Hamlet is Ashley's favourite play of all time, so Weird Sisters, you know what to do!) If you're wondering why we mentioned "something else entirely," well... let's go back to the emailed announcement of this month's show:
"Remember when we said we had a brand-new surprise? We’d like to introduce you to…The Rando!" it explains. "What’s The Rando you might ask? On our illustrious wheel, there are 16 slots. 8 are for one show, and 8 are for another. But now, only 7 slots will be used for either show. Which MEANS (if you’ve been doing the math), there are 2 open slots. In those 2 slots, we’ve inserted a weirder, more bonkers Shakespeare play to challenge our talented actors. So while the chances are more limited, IT’S NOT IMPOSSIBLE. What’s The Rando show? Well, you’ll just have to come to find out!"
Shakes on the Rocks company member having private bets between them as to what 'The Rando' may reveal itself to be. For her money, Ashley is better on Titans Andronicus. If this lesser known Shakespeare oeuvre has escaped your notice it's a perfect bloodbath for Spooky Season. Consider checking out 1999's 'Titus' starring the MCU's Odin, Sir Anthony Hopkins.
Shakes on the Rocks, which takes place around six times a year, was created by James Ferrero, and is produced by Ferrero, Zoo Holmstrom, Acacia Garden Fisher, Rob Angell, and Lindsay Zana. You can get your tickets here.
Shows take place at the Roguelike Tavern in Burbank. More information about Shakes on the Rocks can be found here.
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