Happy Birthday Shakespeare!

Sunday 23 April 2017 would have been William Shakespeare’s 453rd Birthday! At The Courtyard we felt it only right to celebrate by asking two of our resident Shakespeare fans how his work has impacted on them.

David Durant, Associate Director:

“Shakespeare is just as relevant today as he was back in the 16th Century. His plays give us such a wonderful insight into human behaviour and allow us the chance to look at ourselves. He is never short of anything to say and is able to blend story, character and theme to his will. “O for a muse of fire that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention.” Encompasses such drama and creative spar,k that you have to go a long, long way to find anyone who could mould the English Language like good old Will!”

Dan Pegler, our Education Officer and Youth Theatre Leader, will be directing our Senior Youth Theatre in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Main House this July:

“When I found that I was directing a play on the main stage I knew it had to be one of Shakespeare’s works, as it has just been the 400th year anniversary of his death. I chose A Midsummer Night’s Dream as not only is it one of my favourite Shakespeare plays but it has huge significance to my time as a Youth Theatre member as it was the first play I performed in the Main House and thought it was fitting to come full circle and direct my own version.”

Set in 1920s Sicily, SYT’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream tells the story of lovers Hermia and Lysander who want to escape to the new world for a better life. Featuring commedia masks and the mafia instead of fairies, this story recounts one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies.

As a special gift to celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday, we are offering tickets to see Senior Youth Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream for just £5 using promo code DREAM5. This code is valid only on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 April and can be redeemed online as well as in person or on the phone.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be in The Courtyard Main House Thursday 27 – Saturday 29 July. For tickets and showtimes please visit the event page.

Image: Birthday cards for William Shakespeare created by a work experience student from Barrs Court School.