In 2023, the Stafford Gatehouse will produce what promises to be an immersive production of a Midsummer’s Night Dream. While not much of the production has been announced, it's being suggested two award winning household names will be staring in the production. More news on that early next year. The performance runs: June 23rd -... Continue Reading →
To Freedom Leisure and Stafford Borough Council, My fear with this decision to move Stafford Shakespeare to Stafford Gatehouse is that Freedom Leisure, approved by Cabinet is losing touch with the long term artistic ambition of the Gatehouse and is growing further away with its local community. It is clear both parties want Shakespeare in... Continue Reading →
30 years of history. Gone. Ended with a blink of an eye. Amid financial pressures, Freedom Leisure has forced Stafford Borough Council to accept that its Open Air Stafford Festival Shakespeare should be no more. Instead, replacing it with a Shakespeare production staged indoors at the Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford in 2023 with its future after... Continue Reading →
Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Tim Ford Produced by Stafford Gatehouse, its manager Tim Ford takes the reins of Director in this 30th Anniversary production. Under his leadership, Romeo and Juliet is a nod to its traditional setting of time and place. However, with hints of contemporary music and including themes that beat the test of... Continue Reading →
Did you know, during the summer month weekends, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s outdoor theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, The Dell, plays host to a range of lively productions that you can watch? Now in its 14th year, The Dell is situated on the banks of the River Avon in Avonbank Gardens, near Holy Trinity Church. The performances... Continue Reading →
Update: you can read my review of the 30th Anniversary production of Romeo + Juliet here 2020 was due to to be the golden anniversary of Stafford Festival Shakespeare, the renowned open air production set within the grounds of Stafford Castle. Instead, the 30th Anniversary production was pushed back originally to 2021 due to the... Continue Reading →
Photo: Robert Day Please note this is a review based on the first night preview of the production Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Oliver O'Shea Now in its 29th year, it perhaps is a surprise that this year's Stafford Festival Shakespeare is the first time The Merchant of Venice is being produced. It's also the first time... Continue Reading →
Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Conrad Nelson Much Ado About Nothing remains a perfect introduction to Shakespeare with its lighthearted script and easy to follow narrative. With a setting of a tranquil town the close of World War Two, this buoyant adaptation of Shakespeare's classic romantic comedy is a fine piece of accessible theatre. Conrad Nelson carefully... Continue Reading →
Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Rufus Norris The National Theatre continues its work with the Wolverhampton Grand and other regional venues across the country to bring a unique new staging of one of Shakespeare's most recognisable tragedies. This bold imagining by the National Theatre's Artistic Director Rufus Norris is a shortened down, slick performance with a... Continue Reading →
Macbeth, known as the Scottish play is being performed in many places across the country but none like this.
The Theatre Twittic 