Director: Scott Le Crass Imagine Theatre are back producing this year's panto Sleeping Beauty at the Stafford Gatehouse. Mark Rhodes and David Phipps-Davis return with another classic panto full of innuendo and fun. The production has assembled quite the team of panto pros. Rhodes is the likable, yet daft Hilarious Harry. While Phipps-Davis steals the show. Every... Continue Reading →
Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Richard Cheshire It's been 17 years since Stafford Gatehouse produced Hamlet for it's Shakespeare Festival, this year starring local Benedict Shaw as the starring role. The Gatehouse Theatre has shaken up the annual production, not just producing its first trategy since Freedom Leisure moved the festival indoors, but also shines a... Continue Reading →
Writer: Eric Potts Director: Richard Cheshire This year's Jack and the Beanstalk at the Stafford Gatehouse is a oustanding example of everything a panto should be - a touch of magic, a pure heart, a story that grips and comedy for all the ages. Imagine Theatre are experts in the panto format, and it shows... Continue Reading →
Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Sean Turner Musical Director: Stephen Hyde Set in a Cornish Harbour Town, the 32nd Shakespeare production in Stafford is Twelth Night. Complete with original music by folkband the Cornish Fishermen, there's certainly no doubting that if music be the food of love play on. Sean Turner moves the action to 1950s... Continue Reading →
Now entering it's 33rd Year, Stafford has been producing a Shakespeare production during the summer. It's venue in recent years has changed and this year again, Stafford Gatehouse will house the 2024 production Twelth Night. With only four weeks to go until opening night, let's roundup what we know so far: The Cast Headlining the... Continue Reading →
It's been a long road, but Stafford Festival Shakespeare 2023 took place earlier this year. While the cabinet analyse what it feels is right, its the right time to properly sit back and analyse what worked, what didn't, what was promised, and what was delivered. Let's first cast our minds back to the original reasons... Continue Reading →
A report due to be discussed by Stafford Borough Council on the 7th December will ask the cabinet to A) Move the production to the Gatehouse for a second year running B) delegate responsibility for the productions venue to an unelected appointed 'Head of Welfare' This is a breaking news story with further news to... Continue Reading →
Writer and Director: Joe O'Byrne Tale from Paradise Hights is a series of intertwined plays by Joe O'Byrne. Diane's Deli is the latest production on tour and keeps you engaged and guessing until the very end - undergoing twists and turns that O'Byrne is becoming known for. It all starts very relaxed - a quiant... Continue Reading →
For the first time in recent memory and the second time in its history, Stafford Festival Shakespeare moves indoors. With twinkly lit trees, a variety of plants, meters of ivy and vinyl coverings, the Gatehouse brings a sense of the outdoors to its 147 year old building. Director Sean Turner is no stranger to comedy,... Continue Reading →
It's been announced that a cast of 17 including West End and Musical leading lady Kerry Ellis will star in Stafford Gatehouse's in-house immersive production of a Midsummer’s Night Dream. The production is promising to transform the Gatehouse into a 'mythical greek playground' Ellis originated the role of Elphaba in the West End production of... Continue Reading →
The Theatre Twittic 