Midsummer Night Spectacular at Shenley Park

British Touring Shakespeare bring A Midsummer Night's Dream to beautiful Hertfordshire outdoor amphitheatre on Saturday 21st June

Facsimile Productions are delighted to announce that British Touring Shakespeare, the UK's premier touring Shakespeare company, will be performing Shakespeare's classic magical romantic comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream at Shenley Park, Hertfordshire on midsummer night itself, Saturday 21^st June 2008.

BTS, who have become synonomous with quality outdoor classical theatre, have been touring the world since 1999, and have performed as far afield as Germany, Egypt and Dubai as well as being a regular fixture in the British summer for many popular venues around the UK.

The 2008 tour will be taking in the usual blend of stately homes, castles and parks, as well as for the first time this year forest spaces, which promises to bring an exciting new dynamic to the company's work.

The performance at Shenley Park will be following extremely successful and well received productions of The Comedy of Errorsand Romeo and Juliet in previous years.

BTS shows are well known for being a compelling blend of tradition and accessibility, and are suitable for all ages whether seasoned Shakespeare buffs or newcomers to the Bard's work.

The company are delighted to be returning to perennial favourite A Midsummer Night's Dream, which is unquestionably the most suited of Shakespeare's plays to outdoor performance. Magic, romance and comedy all combine to produce what is widely considered to be one of the finest plays the English language has ever produced.

Director Una Buckley says:

‘Shenley Park, with its beautifully landscaped amphitheatre in the walled garden, is a perfect venue for outdoor theatre, and when you combine this with the fact that we will actually be performing the play on midsummer night, this promises to be a very special evening. This year's show as usual features the cream of professional classical theatre talent, and promises to be an unforgettable and magical evening for young and old alike. Bring a picnic and come and join us in the sunshine (we hope!) for the best of British outdoor Shakespeare.'

Praise for previous BTS performances:

‘Rarely do we get to see such committed and robust theatre in this neck of the woods. This is Shakespeare as he himself would recognize it - more please!'

Sue Ambrose-Simpson, Norwich Audience on The Comedy of Errors(2007)

‘Tragedy at its best, alfresco and with the pungency of the night'

Andrew Liddle, The Stage on Romeo and Juliet (2006)

‘Shakespeare with a swing'

Julia Hickman, Theatreworld on The Two Gentlemen of Verona(2003)

The show will be playing at the walled garden in Shenley Park on Saturday 21^st June 2008 at 7.30pm. Gates open at 6pm. The show is open air and will go in all but the worst possible weather. Patrons are advised to bring something to sit on, and are welcome to bring a picnic and drinks to enjoy either before or during the show if they wish. The running time is approximately two and a half hours including interval.

Tickets are priced at £10 for adults and £8 for children under 16 in advance and are available from our website http://www.facsimileproductions.co.uk/, over the phone on 020 8318 4999 or from Shenley Park  in person. Tickets will also be available on the night priced at £15 for adults and £10 for children. Large group bookings can contact the Shenley Park office directly for special rates.

This performance is suitable for all ages and would be an ideal introduction to Shakespeare for those who have not been before.

For further details please visit our website http://www.facsimileproductions.co.uk/ or call our production office on 020 8318 4999.

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