The Festival Players Theatre Company Press Release
FESTIVAL PLAYERS SERVE UP AN ALL-MALE “AS YOU LIKE IT” AT CULZEAN CASTLE - 60-date UK tour travels from village greens to castles of celebrity and royalty – - AYRSHIRE : Culzean Castle (NTS), Maybole, Tuesday, June 26, 7.15pm - Tickets: 01655 884455
If you go down to the woods today – you could be in for a big surprise! For the Festival Players, one of Britain’s top touring theatre companies, is marking its 22nd year with a pacy performance that will certainly keep audiences guessing.
This year they have chosen to perform Shakespeare’s pastoral romantic comedy As You Like It – one of Shakespeare’s greatest crowd pleasers. Set in the Forest of Arden all kinds of antics are going on – from amorous advances to clowning, disguise and gender reversals! And the Players will be giving audiences even more of a conundrum - by fielding an all male cast!
The Gloucestershire-based Festival Players will tour the UK with an exclusively male cast between May 31 and August 27, stopping at the spectacular Italianate Culzean Castle & Country Park on June 26 – one of many National Trust for Scotland properties at which they perform this summer
Touchstone & Audrey Rosalind/|Ganymede, Celia/Aliena, Orlando
Phebe & Silvius Rosalind, Duke Frederick, Celia The Players, who set out to deliver high class open-air (and occasionally indoor) theatre and make Shakespeare accessible to all, will stage more than 60 performances of the famous play across England, Scotland and Wales – at English country houses, abbeys, parks and village greens to wonderful Welsh gardens like Aberglasney and dramatic Scottish castles including, for the first time, the royal residence of Balmoral. In August (8-10) they will also stage four performances as part of the famous Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester and give two performances at Swan Theatre, Worcester as part of the Worcester Festival.
David Lee-Jones will take the central pivotal role of Rosalind, the Duke’s daughter who disguises herself as a youth and teasingly tutors her own suitor on how to win her favours. David, who trained at The Academy Drama School, London will also take the roles of William and vicar Sir Oliver Martext.
Walsall-based Martin Tomms will play three roles – Adam, Duke Senior and Corin. A popular Festival Players stalwart, Martin played Sir Tony Belch in the 2004 production of Twelfth Night, Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Polonius in Hamlet.
Orlando fights Charles the Wrestler watched by Rosalind & Celia
Other cast members are: Cheltenham-based Andrew Holloway as Celia and Amiens, Alan Christopher as Touchstone and Oliver, Matthew Schmolle as Orlando, Audrey and Silvius and Paul Russell as Jaques, Phebe and Duke Frederick.
Assistant Director Sindre Nilsen, from Norway, who is in the UK to complete an MA in theatre directing, will take the roles of Charles the Wrestler, Le Beau and Jacques de Boys. . It will mark a hat trick of all-male performances for the Players. Last year they gained huge acclaim for an all-male production of Hamlet and in 2005 for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which became one of their most successful shows on record, with one performance in Wales alone attracting an audience of around 1,000.
A year after their 21st anniversary, the ensemble will once again set out to prove why they are one of the most respected groups currently performing open-air Shakespeare in the UK.
Director Michael Dyer (left) is known for his crystal clear productions, which make for easily digestible Shakespeare. He says “Two years ago we raised a few eyebrows when people realised there was not an actress in sight! But the feedback proved that people were intrigued by the idea and liked what they saw. Although it might seem unusual today to field an all-male cast it is in fact totally authentic - we are just following in the footsteps of Shakespeare’s own Elizabethan Globe Theatre when all the roles were taken by men.”
Dyer, former director of Cornwall’s famous open air Minack Theatre, is no stranger to adventurous settings of Shakespeare - in 2001 he advanced the Players’ production of Shakespeare’s Henry V into a First World War scenario.
He is looking forward to the challenge of directing the popular romantic comedy and putting his own spin on it in a witty and fast-moving production. He says: “This year will be the first time that no less than four of our male actors have donned skirts! I’ve taken the liberty of trimming Shakespeare’s text so the running time is just about two hours and we can promise audiences a lively production with colourful Renaissance- style costumes specially created for us by Richard Westcott.” The production will also unusually feature original music, specially composed by one of the country’s leading singer-songwriters Johnny Coppin, who made his name in 70s cult folk-rock band Decameron and whose past collaborations include Edge of Day, with well-loved writer Laurie Lee, of “Cider with Rosie” fame, whose poems he set to music.
In a year when The Queen loomed large on the big screen and brought gongs galore for actress Helen Mirren, the Players will perform at the royal residence of Balmoral Castle for the first time and return to the “celebrity” castle of Sudeley in Gloucestershire – setting for Elizabeth Hurley’s recent starry wedding.
Adding many new venues to their schedule this year (including Whiffler Theatre in Castle Gardens, Norwich and two Devon settings – Gnaton Hall and Hurlditch Court near Plymouth) the Players’ tour will include eight performances at National Trust for Scotland properties while in England they will return to National Trust properties Montacute (Somerset), Stourhead (Wiltshire) and Newark Park, Gloucestershire.
Many of the 2007 performances will be in aid of charity. The Players have raised significant amounts of money for charities over the past 20years - from Save the Children to the Army Benevolent Fund, Farms for City Children and Victim Support.
Performances of As You Like It continue until August Bank Holiday, taking in flagship performances at St. Peter’s Square, Hammersmith, London and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.
Tickets for the Culzean performances, which starts at 7.15pm are available on 01655-884455, price £10 (£6 for children). www.culzeancastle.net. The audience is invited to bring low-backed seats, rugs and picnics.
Further information on the Festival Players 2007 performances can be found at www.thefestivalplayers.co.uk
Ends June 2007 * A full UK tour list follows. For interviews with director Michael Dyer or cast members, high-resolution images and press review tickets please contact: Jane Brace PR on (01243) 789554 or email [email protected] or Festival Players administrator Sara Dave on (01453) 844610 or [email protected]
FESTIVAL PLAYERS 2007 TOUR – AS YOU LIKE IT
Date Time Venue Website Box Office Ticket Prices Thurs 31 7.00 Kingshill House, Dursley,Glos GL11 www.kingshillhouse.org. 01453 549133 £10 Adults May pm 4BZ uk £8.00 concessions Fri 1 June 7.30p Glebe House, Mildenhall, SN8 2LU www.riverbank.org.uk 01672 516480 £12.50; £10 children m & students Sat 2 June 7.00 New Inn, Gloucester GL1 1SF 01452 522177 £13.50 pm £10.00 students Sun 3 June 3.00 New Inn – as above pm Sat 9 June 7.30 Evenlode Village Green, nr Moreton-in- 01608 650608 /r £12.00 pm Marsh, Glos GL56 0NU 07771 823734 £6.00 under 16’s Wed 13 June 7.00 Beaudesert Park School, www.horsfallhouse.co.uk 01453 844570 / £12.50 pm Minchinhampton, 01453 731227 £8.00 concessions & GL6 9AF children Thur 14 June 7.30 Frampton Manor Farm,Frampton on 01452 740698 £12.50 pm Severn or 01435 £9.00 children/under 16’s Glos GL2 7EP 760960 £1.00 off for villagers Fri 15 June 7.30 Montacute House, nr Yeovil, TA15 6XP www.nationaltrust.org.uk 0870 3000 579 £12.50 £8.50 under 17’s pm (On door £14.00/£10.00) Sat 16 June 7.30 Maisemore Court, Maisemore, GL2 8EY 01452 750570/ £12.50 pm 01452 527462/ £10.00 children 01531 822123 Sun 17 June 7.30 Trinty Theatre,Tunbridge Wells, Kent www.trinitytheatre.net 01892 678678 £13.50 pm TN1 1JP £11.50 concessions Wed 20 June 8.00 Poulton House, Poulton, GL7 5HW 01285 851237 £12.50 £6.50 children up to 16 pm 01285 654180 Thur 21 June 7.30 Langford House, Langford ,BS40 5DU www.vetschool.bris.ac.u 0117 928 9207 £12.50 / £9.00 pm k Fri 22 June 7.30 Wolvesley Palace Gardens, Winchester, 01264 363487 £13.50 £10.00 concessions pm SO32 9ND £7.00 children under 18&students Sat 23 June 7.30 Ivyclad Hall, Brent Knoll TA9 4BB 01278 769093 £16.00 £12.00 children pm 01278 760225 Book before 9th June : £14/£10 Sun 24 June 2.00 Flaxley Abbey, nr Newnham on Severn 01285 651661 £11.00 pm GL14 1JR £6.00 under 15’s Tues 26 June 7.15 Culzean Castle, Maybole, KA19 8LE www.nts.org.uk 01655 884455 £10.00, £6.00 children pm Weds 27 7.15 Craigievar Castle (NTS), Alford, AB33 www.nts.org.uk 01339 883635 £10.00, £5.00 children June pm 8JF Thur 28 June 7.30 Balmoral Castle, Balmoral Estate, www.balmoralcastle.com 013397 42534 £12.50, £9.00 children pm Aberdeenshire AB35 5TB Family ticket £30 – 2 adults & up to 4 children Sat 30 June 7.30 School of St. Katherine & St. Helen, www.shsk.ork.uk 01235 532012 Tickets £12.50 students £6.00 pm Abingdon, OX14 1BE or vhammond@shs k.org.uk Sun 1 July 2.30 Gate Farmhouse, Inchington, Bristol 01454 413318 £12.50 pm BS35 3TA £9.00 under 15’s Weds 4 July 7.30 Gnaton Hall, Yealmpton, Plymouth PL8 01752 880237 £12.50 pm 2HU £9.00 children
Thur 5 July 7.30 Hurlditch Court, Lamerton, Devon PL19 01752 880237 £12.50 pm 8QA £9.00 children
Fri 6 July 7.30 The Royal Military Acadamy Sandhurst www.sandhurst.mod.uk 01276 412116 £15.00 pm Camberley,GU15 4PQ £10.00 children Sat 7 July 7.30 St Peter's Square, Hammersmith, 0208 741 7950 £12.50 / £9.00 children 5-16 yrs pm London W6 (2pm-8pm) Under 5’s free Sun 8 July 2.30 St Peter's Square, Hammersmith, London 0208 741 7950 All tickets £9.00 pm W6 (2pm-8pm) Under 5’s free
Mon 9 July 7.30 Cressing Temple, Witham Road, www.cressingtemple.org. 01376 584903 £15.00 pm Braintree, uk £12.50 concessions CM77 8PD Weds 11 7.30 Lampeter House, Nr. Narberth SA67 www.span-arts.org.uk 01834 869323 £12.00 adults / £10.00 conc July pm 8TS
Thur 12 July 7.30 Margam Park Orangery, Margam, Port www.npt.gov.uk 01639 763214 £10.00 pm Talbot £8.00 concession SA13 2TF Fri 13 July 7.00 Brecon Beacons National Park Visitor www.breconbeacons.org 01874 623366 £12.50 / £8.50 under 16’s pm Centre, Family ticket (3 children): Libanus, Brecon LD3 8ER £45.00 Sun 15 July 7.30 Havelock House,Tidworth, Wilts SP9 01980 672522 £15.00 / £12.00 senior citizens pm 7AH £9.00 children
Tues 17 July 8.00 Marlborough College, Marlborough, www.mcsummerschool.o 01672 892388 £15.00 pm SN81PA rg.uk
Weds 18 7.30 Shaftesbury Abbey, Shaftesbury, SP7 www.shaftesburyabbey.c 01747 852910 £12.00 July pm 8JR o.uk 01747 853514 £10.00 FOSA
Thur 19 July 7.30 Sand, Sidbury, Devon EX10 0QN 01395 597230 £12.50 / £8.00 children pm (On the night £14.50 / £10.00) Fri 20 July 7.00 Nethercott House, Iddesleigh, Devon www.farmsforcitychildre 01837 810573 £12.50 pm EX19 8BG n.org.uk £10.00 concessions
Sat 21 July 7.00 Nethercott House, Iddesleigh, Devon www.farmsforcitychildre 01837 810573 £12.50 pm EX19 8BG n.org.uk £10.00 concessions Sun 22 July 7.45 Montys Court Gardens, Norton Private Private Invitation only pm Fitzwarren Invitation only Taunton TA4 1BT Fri 27 July 7.30 Leighton Hall ,Carnforth, Lancs LA5 www.leightonhall.co.uk 01524 734474 £12.50 pm 9ST 01524 32878 £9.00 children 01524582808 Sat 28 July 3.00 Higham Hall Bassenthwaite Lake, www.highamhall.com 017687 76276 £12.50 pm Cumbria £9.00 schoolchildren CA13 9SH Mon 30 July 7.15 Brodie Castle (NTS), Brodie, Forres, www.nts.org.uk 01309 641371 £12.00 pm Moray IV36 2TE £10.00 concessions Tues 31 July 7.30 Castle Fraser, Sauchen, Inverurie AB51 www.nts.org.uk 01330 833463 £11.00 / £6.00 children pm 7LD
Weds 1 Aug 7.15 House of Dun (NTS) Montrose, Angus www.nts.org.uk 01674 810264 £10.00 pm DD10 9LQ £4.00 children Thur 2 Aug 7.15 Pitmedden Garden (NTS), Ellon www.nts.org.uk 01651 842352 £10.00 pm Aberdeenshire, AB41 7PD £5.00 children Fri 3 Aug 7.00 Falkland Palace, Falkland, Fife KY15 www.nts.org.uk 01337 857397 £12.50 / £7.00 children pm 7BU Sat 4 Aug 7.15 Hill of Tarvit Mansion House and www.nts.org.uk 01334 653127 £12.50 pm Garden, £7.00 children Cupar, Fife, KP15 5PB Sun 5 Aug 7.15 Threave Gardens (NTS), Castle Douglas www.nts.org.uk 01556 502575 £12.00 / £10.00 concessions pm Dumfries & Galloway, DG7 1RX £6.00 children
Weds 8 Aug 2 pm Three Choirs Festival, Old Palace www.3choirs.org.uk 01452 381638 £13.50 & Garden, £10.00 under 16’s 7.30 King's School, Gloucester GL1 2BH pm Thur 9 Aug 11.30 Three Choirs 01452 381638 £13.50 am (as previous) £10.00 under 16’s Fri 10 Aug 12 Three Choirs 01452 381638 £13.50 noon (as previous) £10.00 under 16’s Sat 11 Aug 7.30 Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD www.sudeleycastle.co.uk 01242 602308 £12.50 / £10.50 concessions pm 01242 522878 £9.00 children 01242 602925 Sun 12 Aug 7.30 Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD www.sudeleycastle.co.uk 01242 602308 £12.50 / £10.50 concessions pm 01242 522878 £9.00 children 01242 602925 Tues 14 Aug 7.30 The Gnoll, The Gnoll Estate, Fairyland, www.npt.gov.uk 01639 635808 £10.00 pm Neath. SA11 3BS 01639 763214 £8.00 concessions Weds 15 7.30 Oystermouth Castle, The Mumbles, www.swansea.gov.uk 01792 475715 £8.50 £6.50 concessions Aug pm Gower, Swansea SA3 5TA (on the day £10.00/ £8.00) Thur 16 Aug 7.30 Oystermouth Castle, The Mumbles, www.swansea.gov.uk 01792 475715 £8.50 £6.50 concessions pm Gower, Swansea SA3 5TA (on the day £10.00/ £8.00) Fri 17 Aug 7.30 Aberglasney Gardens, Llangathen, www.aberglasney.org 01558 668998 £12.00 pm Carmarthenshire SA32 8QH 01558 824226 £9.00 students 01267 231557 01550 720693 Sat 18 Aug 7.30 Stourhead House, Stourton, Warminster, www.nationaltrust.org.uk 0870 300 3579 £12.50 £9.00 children pm Wilts BA12 6QD (on the night £15.00 / £11.50) Tues 21 Aug 7.30 Swan Theatre,The Moors, Worcester www.worcesterlive.co.uk 01905 611427 £12.50 pm WR1 3EF £10.00 concessions Wed 22 Aug 7.30 Swan Theatre, The Moors, Worcester www.worcesterlive.co.uk 01905 611427 £12.50 pm WR1 3EF £10.00 concessions Fri 24 Aug 7.30 Whiffler Theatre , Castle Gardens www.norwich.gov.uk 01603 212219 Free pm Norwich NR1 3JC (Thursdays ‘Openstages’ event only) or 07899 967565 Friday to Sunday Sat 25 Aug 7.30 Newark Park (NT), Ozleworth, www.nationaltrust.org.uk 0870 3000 579 £13.50 pm Glos GL12 7PZ £6.00 children Sun 26 Aug 3.00 Langar Hall, Langar, Notts NG13 9HG www.langarhall.com 01949 860559 £12.50 £9.00 concessions pm £8.00 under 16’s Mon 27 Aug 1.30p Great Garden of New Place, Henley www.shakespeare.org.uk 01789 292325 £12.50 & Street, £9 students, 18 and under 7pm Stratford on Avon CV37 6EP