The Leeds Shakespeare Festival is to return to Kirkstall Abbey for its 14th year. This is one of the largest events of its kind in Europe attracting around 10,000 people and receiving great critical acclaim. We would particularly like to thank John Liversedge and the Kirkstall Valley Community Association for their heartfelt support but also everyone else that has played their part in bringing the festival back to the city.
As the British Shakespeare Company will hire Kirkstall Abbey and fully fund the event ourselves without any funding so we are very keen to hear from sponsors and advertisers of all sizes for this incredibly popular event. This is your festival so please play your part, book early and enjoy an event that should not be missed.
Please support the event and get first booking on tickets, an advance programme and other offers by becoming a festival friend today.
Comedy in the Park will also return to Leeds on Monday 3rd and 10th August 2009. Comedians and details will be involved in the next few weeks. Please comment
I spent a fantastic day today at Brunel University interviewing Mark Rylance (former artistic director of the Globe Theatre and all round international Shakespearean genius) for the film Sweet Swan of Avon. This is the first time we have met although I have spent many wonderful evenings in his company at the Globe and elsewhere where he has taken me on a journey to Agincourt or Prospero’s Island. A truly gifted performer and I was delighted to find a witty and fiercely intelligent man behind the public figure.
After the meeting Mark Rylance became Dr Rylance at a ceremony attended by Sir Derek Jacobi. After this they shared the platform for a fascinating debate on the authorship question. I know the very idea of an authorship debate makes some people very angry indeed. I would say that such questions can only enliven our thirst for knowledge about the man behind the works and help dismiss fanciful images like the current “Cobbe portrait”.
We then had food, wine and interesting talk - splended.
We are delighted to announce Roxanne Pallett will be starring in the lead role of Hero in Much Ado About Nothing and Cobweb in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The former Emmerdale actress is fulfilling a long-held ambition and will join the company as soon as she completes work on the Dancing On Ice Tour. Roxanne is an excellent young actress and will also sing in both shows.
Robert J Williamson will play Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. More cast announcements will be made in the next few days.
NEWS: Tickets for the shows at Norwich Cathedral are now on sale! Click here
We are delighted to announce that Daniela Lavender is to revisit her roles of Hippolyta and Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Daniela joined us for our two sell out night’s of Dream in 2008 at Arundel Castle and was excellent in these parts. She is an outstanding actress and I am honoured to work with her on our tour throughout the UK, Norway and Prague.
We are delighted we will be returning to the stunning open air theatre at Ramme Gaard in 2009. Ever since our company first performed there in 2006, Norway and Ramme Gaard has held a very special place in our hearts. Thank you to our patron Petter Olsen for his continuing support.
When asked “What is your favourite book of all time?” Barack Obama replied that after the Bible it was, “Shakespeare’s Tragedies, whether it’s Hamlet or Lear, you know there’s so much in each of those tragedies. I mean you can read that once a year and each year there’s something new, there’s something you did not notice, there’s some insight into the human dilemma. It’s powerful stuff.” President Barack Obama.
He is in good company:
“Some of Shakespeare’s plays I have never read; while others I have gone over perhaps as frequently as any unprofessional reader. Among the latter are Lear, Richard Third, Henry VIII, Hamlet, and especially Macbeth. I think nothing equals Macbeth. It is wonderful.” Abraham Lincoln
The world of Shakespeare has been taken by storm with the discovery of a treasure trove of personal paper and manuscripts belonging to William Shakespeare himself.
During restoration work on Shakespeare’s Bust in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-Upon-Avon the panel pictured was removed to reveal the documents.
At present detailed information has not been released, as experts from across the Globe head to Stratford to view the works. It has however been announced that several new plays have been discovered including a work on the life of Marco Polo (1254-1324) entitled “Frail Polo”.
Update: I am sure you all noticed that “Frail Polo” is actually an anagram of April Fool.
The Leeds Shakespeare Festival is to return to Kirkstall Abbey for its 14th year. This is one of the largest events of its kind in Europe attracting around 10,000 people and receiving great critical acclaim. We would particularly like to thank John Liversedge and the Kirkstall Valley Community Association for their heartfelt support but also everyone else that has played their part in bringing the festival back to the city.
