Shakespeare at the castle will be Dream performance
An open air production of one of Shakespeare's greatest comedies is planned from Thursday to July 13 as part of the Stafford Festival Shakespeare.
Stafford Festival Shakespeare is returning to the live arena, following a hugely successful production of Romeo and Juliet last year.
The company is planning another enchanting production in the form of the farcical comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Exploring the balance between reality and fantasy, A Midsummer Night's Dream fuses two worlds whilst recounting the tale of two sparring couples.
The tale takes a nonsensical detour as magic and spells play with the young lovers' dreams among the dramatic backdrop of Stafford Castle.
Featuring the festivals' much-loved combination of original music and a highly unique setting, this year's magical comedy is set to once again be a highlight in Staffordshire's cultural calendar.
Offering all-weather grandstand seating and accommodating an audience of up to 1,000, the festival offers the perfect setting to start your summer, come rain or shine.
The open air production will take place between Thursday and July 13 and tickets cost between £10 and £23.50. Visit www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk
People who want to dine in style at Stafford Castle can book pre-theatre dining, with options ranging from a three-course meal, to mouth-watering picnic platters. Further details are available on (01785) 710715 or by emailing shakespeare@thelewispartnership.co.uk.
Stafford Festival Shakespeare is produced by Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, for Stafford Borough Council, and the event is the centrepiece of the borough's popular family-orientated Stafford Festival. The production was established in 1991 and has been performed annually against the dramatic backdrop of Stafford Castle, which overlooks the acting company and the audience.
The performances have covered the full range of The Bard's work, including romances, tragedies, comedies and histories. The company performed A Midsummer Night's Dream back in 2006.
The event's reputation has grown dramatically in recent years, attracting many accomplished and respected actors to play alongside experienced local actors. The event is now regarded as one of the top three Open Air Shakespeare Festivals in the country and has seen audiences grow from 3,776 people in its opening year to its present 14,848 capacity.
Over the last 22 years Stafford Festival Shakespeare has welcomed a stellar cast including Leila Birch, Matthew Kelly, Eric Potts, Toyah Willcox, Kristian Schmid, Rula Lenska, Scarlett Johnson and Stephen Beckett among others.
By Pippa Hawker
