Bristol Shakespeare Festival 2015
Posted on: 27 May 2015Bristol Shakespeare Festival returns for an incredible 17 days packed with literary and dramatic fun.
The festival itself was founded in 2004, run by a team of dedicated volunteers who are passionate about bringing the newest, most exciting interpretations of Shakespeare’s great works to some of Bristol’s most picturesque and unique spaces. These volunteers are entirely responsible for the funding and running of the festival, which will be returning in full swing from the 30th June.
For a full programme of events please click here. This year's venues include Brandon Hill Bowling Green, Leigh Woods, The Tobacco Factory, Blaise Castle, and The Rope Walk.
Previous years acts have included the very best national touring companies such as The Lord Chamberlain’s Men and Shakespeare’s Globe. These have taken part alongside other prestigious and exceptional companies, youth groups, school, special educational needs and disability art groups.
Kicking off the brilliant theatrical events lined up for this year, Wild Productions will be staging Mrs Shakespeare from the 30th June. The tale occurs when William Shakespeare, reincarnated as a woman, finds herself in a mental asylum and comes to the conclusion that she made a complete mess of writing ‘Hamlet’ 400 years earlier. Armed with a quill and hampered by a rebellious cast who are anxious not to be rewritten, she embarks on an epic reformulation of theatre’s most famous text under the new title ‘Ophelia’. Unfortunately, William’s therapist is unsympathetic. Is it because he is a reincarnated Christopher Marlowe?
Although some of the performances are completely free, booking is advised for the small number of ticketed plays, with ticket prices ranging from £6. Click here to book your tickets.
Just after the festival, on the 22nd and 28th of July, there will also be opportunity for younger thespians to take to the stage drawing on the plays they will have seen during the festival. Acting Out Summer School is running a one-day improvisational journey, using imaginative play, storytelling, craft and a lot of fun to tell the story of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest. This will be at the Southville Centre in Bristol and costs between £10 and £20 pp. Booking is essential.
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Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
