Shakespeare's Comedies - A Midsummer Night’s Dream

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Shakespeare’s comedies bring joyous entertainment to Peterborough Cathedral Precincts this summer.

There’s a Shakespearean feel to the programme at Peterborough Cathedral this summer, with outdoor performances of two of the bard’s best loved comedies.

A joyous and celebratory production of As You Like It will be performed by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men on Wednesday 15th June at 7.00pm, on the green outside the west front of the Cathedral.

The all-male theatre company, who can trace their roots back to Shakespeare’s time, visited last year with their much acclaimed, sell-out production of Macbeth. They are especially looking forward to the extra layer of fun and intrigue they will bring to this year’s show, when the plot means that a man playing a woman who is dressed as a man, pretends to be a woman!

Peter Stickney, Artistic Director and Producer says,

“As You Like It is a wonderfully warm, funny and rich play. We follow our main characters as they flee or are exiled from the court to set up new lives in the Forest of Arden. There they find love, freedom and, ultimately, happiness. There is clearly much to be said for running away to the countryside and starting again! There will be plenty of songs and laughs, some classic Shakespearean cross-dressing confusion and a spot of wrestling.” 

Then on Thursday 14th July, Quantum Theatre will perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Cloisters. An “enchanting and rip-roaringly funny” production is promised. The story is set on that most dangerous of nights, when fairies are abroad and nothing is as it seems. Four young, unsuspecting, lovers become entangled in their magical world and soon no mortals are safe in those bewitching woods outside Athens….

 

For both the shows, audiences of all ages are welcome. Everyone is encouraged to bring a low backed chair or blanket to sit on, a picnic and a drink of something chilled. The performances will go ahead whatever the weather, so check forecast beforehand and dress accordingly.

 

Tickets for As You Like It are available via ticketsource.co.uk/booking/select/RdiEJKhzXNnT and for A Midsummer Night’s Dream via ticketsource.co.uk/Peterborough-Cathedral-Events/t-lyppen or visit the Cathedral website and follow the links (www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk).