Richard Morrison as Puck
Oliver Farnworth (Lysander) and Jacqueline Wilder (Hermia)
Daniela Lavender (Titania)
Rebecca Wicking (Peaseblossom) and Mackenzie Rowswell (Indian changeling child)
Oliver Farnworth (Lysander) and Richard Morrison (Puck) - photo by Barrie Palmer
Amy Louise Smith (Cobweb), Rebecca Wicking (Peaseblossom), Robert J Williamson (as Bottom) and Elyon (Mustardseed)
Rebecca Wicking (Peaseblossom) and Richard Morrison (Puck)
Oliver Farnworth (Lysander) and Jacqueline Wilder (Hermia)
Robert J Williamson (Bottom), Kevin Brannagan (Tom Snout) and Robert Crumpton (Snug)
Our shows at Arundel were a total sell-out and have been described as ‘a triumph’. Special guest Sir David Frost said the show was “Crisp, clear, outstanding. A wonderful show. A great performance”. Imogen Stubbs, who came with partner Sir Trevor Nunn, said the show was “Just wonderful - these actors know how Shakespeare should be spoken”. Actress Marsha Fitzalan said “The show was fabulous and fitted beautifully into the venue”. It is wonderful to have such a great response to our work from people that I have long admired.
We are very pleased to announce we have been personally invited by the Duke of Norfolk to return in 2009 for a longer run at this magnificent, beautiful and historic venue.
Our thanks go to the Duke & Duchess of Norfolk for inviting us, Bryan McDonald, Jo Smith and all the Arundel staff, and to our appreciative audience, magnificent cast and hard-working technical crew.
If you saw the show please leave a comment.
See Gallery page for all show photographs.
Photographs are copyright of Chris Hopkins and may not be reproduced without permission.
A warning to everyone wanting tickets for Shakespeare at Arundel almost all are gone. The event sold out but extra tickets have been released and they are nearly gone too - no more will be released after these are sold as the event is at its capacity for its theatrical licence - 800 people! I am told they have already stopped online booking for the Friday 29th but you can get the last few by phone if you call now. A few extra are left for the Thursday 28th but I would not wait as you will miss out. This is going to be a great couple of shows.
With just a week and a half to go before our Arundel shows, the cast are in the midst of rehearsals. It’s going to be a fabulous show and tickets are almost sold out. Full cast biographies are on our main site (click here) including our youngest member at just 5 1/2 years old.
The site of one of the most important Elizabethan playhouses has been discovered in Shoreditch - The Theatre. This was where Shakespeare himself performed with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men and audiences saw many of his plays for the first time. Please read the BBC NEWS site for details. Please note it is NOT ”where Shakespeare’s plays were first performed” as the BBC states, this was in fact The Rose Theatre the first Elizabethan theatre in Bankside. The Theatre was dismantled and the timbers used to build the Globe Playhouse the site of which was buried and built over recently and lies several hundred yards from the stunning ”Shakespeare’s Globe”. A modern reconstruction of an Elizabethan Playhouse but not a copy of the original Globe for which there are of course no plans or internal layouts to copy.
We are delighted to announce Oliver Farnworth (Lysander) and Daniela Lavender (Hippolyta & Titania) have joined the cast of the British Shakespeare Company. Robert J. Williamson will play Nick Bottom. Photographs and biographies for the full cast are available now - click here. There are some tickets left, however they are selling fast and our first year at Arundel is likely to be a sold out event. To book now on click Arundel.
Please read the post below also for information on the Leeds Shakespeare Festival. This is just an update.
UPDATE - We are delighted to let you know we now have a meeting arranged with Councillor John Procter to discuss the 2009 Leeds Shakespeare Festival. This is on the 2nd September and we will report any progress as we have it. Please continue to write in support as indicated below.
A decision regarding the 2009 Leeds Shakespeare Festival will be made very soon. We are hoping to form a partnership with Leeds City Council in which they would organize and produce the event as part of the Councils wonderful season of entertainment for the city. The festival would become a Council event like “Opera in the Park” and “Classical Fantasia” and we would continue to provide the very best open-air Shakespeare in Great Britain for the event. The Leeds Shakespeare Festival is the largest professional Shakespeare Festival in Great Britain and it should have a guaranteed future.
However this proposal was turned down this year so we need your messages of support to the press and to Councillor Procter in the hope the powers that be recognise the popularity and importance of the event.
SPONSORS - I call upon companies that want to attach their name to such a prestigious event to please write to us as this is a certain way to secure the event. Please click sponsorship for details.
The final decision lies with Councilor John Procter and we strongly urge you to please write a supportive e-mail to him as it may make all the difference. This is your festival please support its future: john.procter@leeds.gov.uk. Yorkshire Post Newspapers - Evening Post address is eped@ypn.co.uk and Yorkshire Post Editor is yp.editor@ypn.co.uk. This support is essential if the event is to continue. PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT!