Out and about with the Bard
OPEN-AIR SHAKESPEARE RETURNS TO CITY
FREE outdoor performances of Shakespeare plays are returning to Nottingham after a break of nearly 18 months caused by the pandemic.
Nottingham Shakespeare Company is set to put on Twelfth Night at a variety of city locations.
The outdoor theatre group has been unable to stage its plays during due to restrictions caused by Covid19.
Its artistic director is enthusiastic about their comeback.
Six shows are expected to take place in September.
Artistic director, and director of the Twelfth Night productions, Michelle-louise Wright said: “We feel brilliant.
“We have had to rehearse outside to keep everyone safe, which has meant sunburn, mosquito bites and some very wet huddling under trees in St Stephen’s Churchyard, but from the start everyone’s been so excited and enthusiastic.
“I feel like it’s scrubbed away all those lonely, dark days for me.
“It’s brilliant to be with a group like this who are so into Shakespeare and who love playing it, and it makes for a great show.
“Everyone should come because
Shakespeare belongs to us all. You get these people who think theatre in general and Shakespeare, in particular, is just for posh people or that it’s difficult or boring. We change that.
“Shakespeare filled his theatre with everyone from the groundlings, who paid a penny and packed out the standing, to the great lords, to Queen Elizabeth and King James.
“We do everything for free and outside so anyone can just rock up and enjoy the ride.
“Our show’s only 90 minutes too so it’s really fast-paced and we deliberately chose a comedy to lift everyone’s spirits after what has been, let’s face it, one hell of a year.
“Everyone will be laughing out loud and we all need that.”
■ A list of upcoming performances from the Nottingham Shakespeare Company includes:
■ September 2: St Stephen’s Churchyard, Sneinton, 7pm
■ September 3: DH Lawrence Pavilion, Highfields Park, 7pm
■ September 4: Sneinton Market, Avenues Plaza, 2pm
■ September 4: St Mary’s Churchyard, Lace Market, 7pm
■ September 10: Victoria Embankment Bandstand, 7pm
■ September 11: Victoria Embankment Bandstand, 2pm/7pm