A poster for the Shanghai version of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) Photo: Courtesy of Urban Aphrodite

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), a parody of all 37 plays written by the Bard, is the newest production from Shanghai's English-language theater group Urban Aphrodite.

Written by three Brits, Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, and performed by three actors at the speed of lightning, the play involves plenty of singing and dancing, numerous costume changes, cross-gender acting and lots of humor and jokes.

It premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1987 and was London's longest-running comedy, running for nine years in the West End at the Criterion Theatre. Today it is the world's most performed stage parody of all time.

The Shanghai version is directed by Jason Lasky and stars Barron Weyerhaeuser, Alex Gomar and Paul Giblin.

"It is all about three guys, 37 plays and 97 minutes," said Ann James, who is the producer of the show. "The actors keep changing the costumes. It's nonstop action," she said.

There are over 100 props used in the show. "The actors need to be very organized. The show is fast paced and there are quick costume changes. It is not an easy play to act in but it is really funny and it will be worth it," James said.

The first act of the play sees Titus Andronicus portrayed as a cooking show, Othello told through a rap song, and the Bard's most famous leading lady, Juliet, being played by a man. The entire second act is dedicated to Hamlet, which the actors perform backwards.

"We will also have a live musician playing sound effects throughout the show and amazing costumes," said James. Music will be performed by Tom Sharrock.

"There is a lot of audience participation. People get on the stage, the actors get into the audience, there is a lot of interaction," she said. During the second act, an audience member is asked to portray Ophelia for one of the scenes.

"The play is loosely improvised. Wherever this show is performed, the actors make references to the city that they are in. So there will be a lot of Shanghai and Chinese humor in it," James said.

Date: November 14 to 24 (Thursday to Sunday only) at 8 pm

Venue: Sasha's 3rd Floor Theater

Address: 11 Dongping Road

东平路11号

Admission: 200 yuan in advance, 220 at the door

For more details, email tickets@urbanaphrodite.nl or call 187-2152-8625