Have you ever wondered what the 1986 film Aliens would be like if it was written by Shakespeare? Me either, but that didn’t stop this show from making its way into existence, written by Keith Gow, directed by Rob Lloyd and produced by Cassandra Hart and Rob Lloyd. Shakespeare Aliens is a show that combines all the gunslinging sci-fi action of Aliens with Shakespeare’s poeticism and classic turns of phrase. Shakespeare Aliens often lifts dialogue directly from the movie and then Shakespearifies it. There are a few classic lines from the bard that are thrown in at appropriate places, but there are otherwise few references to the classic plays. The use of asides and monologues, particularly towards the climax where the action either froze or slowed to make way for the asides, was particularly effective in the way it informed the audience of what was going on without requiring high tech sets or excessive use of projection, as well as the effect it had of keeping the audience off-balance as the play moved towards the final battle. There were moments when the dialogue did seem to become particularly modern, particularly during action scenes, where it seemed the Shakespearean language almost disappeared, though this may have been an effort to keep particularly significant lines intact for fans of the movies. The show as a whole has been well-planned and well-staged. The set is minimal, consisting of little more than a half-dozen chairs lining the edges of the stage, and simple images projected onto the back curtain suggesting places but never detracting from the action on the stage. Director Rob Lloyd has used the space well, using formations of people, simple movements, and different areas of the stage to indicate places. The lighting is evocative and dramatic, adding drama without ever leaving us in the dark regarding what was happening on stage. The soundtrack is similarly dramatic, often stretching the suspense to breaking point. The alien puppets were a true standout of this show. Designed by Donna Prince, these consisted mostly of headpieces worn by the puppeteers with a mechanism to open the aliens’ jaws. The alien queen, however, was extremely clever, with four puppeteers coming together to form her body. The way the puppeteers swayed in unison to create the movements of the alien queen were a study in tight choreography. They weren’t four puppeteers — they were one huge and terrifying alien! As a whole, the actors portray their characters with conviction and depth, with standout performances by Seon Williams (Vasquez), Danny McGinlay (Burke), and Elysia Janssen (Newt). Cassandra Hart, as Ripley, was suitably traumatised and gritty in action-packed moments, but seemed to struggle to show the softer side of Ridley, with much of her dialogue being delivered at the same level of aggression throughout the play. Overall, Shakespeare Aliens was a funny, cleverly staged production. Playing at the Goodwood Theatre, it is definitely worth a night out for fans of the movie and of the bard.