Work has begun to reconstruct the Royal Shakespeare Company’s outdoor theatre in the Swan Gardens on the banks of the River Avon.
The Holloway Garden Theatre will host a number of productions over the summer including daytime performances of a new 80-minute staging of Shakespeare’s As You Like It from Thursday 18 July until Sunday 1 September; The Two Gentlemen of Verona from Thursday 22 until Saturday 24 August, presented by the RSC’s young company of actors aged between 13 and 18; and free weekend Open Stage community productions and events from Saturday 20 July until Sunday 1 September.
The Holloway Garden Theatre, formerly known as the Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Garden Theatre, was first used in 2021 for outdoor performances of The Comedy of Errors during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is named after Charles Holloway, who was awarded an OBE in the King’s birthday honours to recognise his arts philanthropy.
RSC co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey said, “we’re delighted to be bringing back the hugely popular Holloway Garden Theatre to Stratford. We’re looking forward to building on the success of its sell-out summer season in 2021.
“Brendan O’Hea’s production of As You Like It is just the thing for those looking for compact Shakespeare. Running at 80 minutes and with performances at 2 and 5PM, it’s ideal for families and for daytime visitors to the town. And what better way to enjoy Shakespeare during the summer than in the open air by the River Avon?
“We can’t wait to see what our talented young acting company do with The Two Gentlemen of Verona. And if you fancy some free theatre at weekends, our Open Stage community productions are just the ticket.”
In As You Like It, Luke Brady and Letty Thomas will make their RSC debuts as the sparring lovers Orlando and Rosalind. They will joined by Ned Derrington (Oliver and Corin), Peter Dukes (Charles the Wrestler and Duke Senior), Trevor Fox (Jaques and William), Natasha Magigi (Phoebe and Amiens), Chris Nayak (Silvius and Duke Frederick), Christina Tedders (Celia), Susannah Van Den Berg (Audrey and Le Beau), Rachel Winters (understudy) and Duncan Wisbey (Touchstone and Adam).
O’Hea said, “I’ve always adored As You Like It. Not only is it peppered with eccentrics, it contains a wrestling match and more music than any other Shakespeare play. But above all it’s a celebration: Shakespeare sets off a confetti cannon of love in all its different forms.”
Joining O’Hea on the creative team are Liam Bunster (set and costume designer), Catherine Jayes (composer), Jonathan Ruddick (sound designer), Siân Williams (movement director), Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown (fight directors) and Matthew Dewsbury CDG and Martin Poile CDG (casting directors).
Twenty-five members of the RSC’s Next Generation Act young company will perform a new reinterpretation of The Two Gentlemen of Verona which will be directed by Paul Ainsworth. The students are from 12 cities and towns across England: Birmingham, Blackpool, Bradford, Cumbria, Hastings, Hull, Kent, Leicester, Northampton, Newcastle upon Tyne, Sudbury and York.