Theatre in the Garden to return to London’s West End this summer
The Actors’ Church announces a sensational summer season in the heart of the West End.
Image: Theatre in the Garden
The Actors’ Church, St. Paul's, is set to host a summer season of innovative theatre in its gardens. Dubbed Theatre in the Garden, the program will include performances from eight visiting companies featuring Shakespearean comedy, puppetry, comedy, and new takes on classic tales. Reverend Simon Grigg, the Rector, notes that St. Paul's Church has been hosting theatrical productions for nearly 400 years and that the outdoor theatre program is central to its theatrical mission. The season will include productions such as As You Like It, Robin Hood, and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
Shakespeare in the Square, a company with Dame Judi Dench as its patron, will perform Shakespeare's Twelfth Night in St. Paul's gardens. The production, set in the 1920s, is a romantic comedy of mistaken identity. Another company, Tethered Wits, will stage a version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby as well as a family-friendly story of Doctor Dolittle using puppetry to create an array of creatures. Troubadour Stageworks will bring a high-energy production of Romeo + Juliet suitable for all the family, and a new adaptation of The Odyssey that is full of music and adventure.
Image: Theatre in the Garden
Rabble Theatre's Henry I, originally created in 2015, returns to St. Paul's at a time when its themes resonate more acutely than ever. Rabble Theatre is known for its historical seasons and championing the forgotten women of history. Slapstick Picnic will offer a three-hander version of JM Barrie's classic play Peter Pan, complete with hapless pirates, feral children, and a particularly punctual reptile. The award-winning Illyria Theatre Company will present a scandalous version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Finally, the HandleBards, a company of cycling Shakespearean actors, will perform A Midsummer Night's Dream. The company's productions are environmentally sustainable, charmingly chaotic, and highly energetic.
The Actors' Church has assembled an exciting season of outdoor theatre that showcases the diversity of theatre companies and productions. With a wide range of genres, expect a summer of delightful entertainment set against the beautiful backdrop of St. Paul's gardens.
Date: May – September 2023 . Location: St Paul’s Church, Bedford Street, London, WC2E 9ED. Website: actorschurch.org