Stamford Shakespeare Company 2018 Season

Stamford Shakespeare Company Rutland Open Air Theatre at Tolethorpe Hall

The Merry Wives of Windsor The Merchant of Venice The School for Scandal

TH 50 ANNIVERSARY

1 9 68 – 2 0 1 8

12th June - 1st September 2018

☎ Box Office: 01780 756133

www.stamfordshakespeare.co.uk

WELCOME The Stamford Shakespeare Company warmly welcomes you to the Rutland Open Air Theatre.

Last summer over 34,000 people experienced the magic of an evening at Tolethorpe Hall.

Enjoy a picnic in the beautiful grounds as the sun slowly sets, then take your seat, protected from summer showers, and see a stage like no other.

“One of England’s premier alfresco theatre venues” THE STAGE

“One of the finest things to do this summer” THE SUNDAY TIMES

50 YEARS

In 2005, a trap room was built beneath the stage to provide access to the stage floor from below.

The Stamford Shakespeare Company, founded in 1968 by RADA graduate Jean Harley, produced plays in the Monastery Garden of Stamford’s historic George Hotel, initially to raise money for the creation of the Stamford Arts Centre and restoration of the Georgian theatre in St Mary’s Street.

Use of the trap room creates a comic moment in 2017’s production of Much Ado About Nothing.

In 2017, a revolve was built, making possible the creation of multiple settings on the same stage.

Jean Harley, far right, rehearsing Romeo and Juliet in the Monastery Garden in 1970.

In 1977, when, due to building work, the hotel could no longer accommodate the productions, a new venue had to be found. The Company acquired Tolethorpe Hall and members quickly set about the huge task of getting everything ready for the first season. Concrete steps were laid, turning a natural bank of grass and weeds into a raked auditorium.

A canvas canopy to protect the auditorium from summer showers was purchased together with 382 plastic chairs.

The new revolve enabled the set design for 2017’s Hobson’s Choice to feature multiple rooms.

Work planned for 2018 includes an exciting revamp of the restaurant, bar and orangery which will celebrate the past 50 years. There will be costume and photo displays, exhibitions of the Company’s history and much more.

What began as a modest, local venture has become a leading regional theatre with a growing national reputation, attracting an audience from around the UK and overseas.

Incredibly, the 2018 season will see ticket sales hit one million since the Company began performing at Tolethorpe Hall.

The first temporary canvas covering a 382 seat auditorium.

Since then the Company has gone from strength to strength. A major marketing campaign saw increases in attendance from 6,000 in 1985 to 12,000 in 1986 and over 34,000 by 1994.

The theatre itself has seen many changes.

In 1993, the seating capacity was increased from 450 to 600 and a permanent canopy was erected over the auditorium. In 2002, a 25ft-high gantry was erected to enable actors to fly across the stage.

The Merchant of Venice WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S

Performances

Performances

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S

JUNE, JULY & AUGUST

JULY & AUGUST

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Venice, 1596 and Antonio, an honourable merchant, enters into a chilling contract to enable his dearest friend to woo a beautiful heiress, whose fate lies waiting within caskets of gold, silver and lead.

The old rogue Sir John Falstaff has returned penniless from the war and plans to seduce two ‘merry wives’. Shakespeare’s hilarious comedy is his nearest approach to a farce, with people forever rushing in and out of doors, including a comic Welsh parson, a manic French doctor and a madly jealous husband.

At the heart of the story stands Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, one of Shakespeare’s greatest and most complex characters.

Depicting middle-class family life in an English provincial town, our production is set in 1947, a time of austerity and optimism, when women are finding a new role in post-war Britain and our musicians at the Garter Inn are playing 40’s jazz.

This remarkable play, with its explorations of prejudice, love, justice, and the power of money, deeply resonates to us in these present turbulent times, but it also stands alone, as a truly gripping story.

2018 PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN’S

Performances

JUNE, JULY & AUGUST

The School for Scandal

The Merchant of Venice

This wonderfully funny play is one of the most engaging high comedies in the English language.

The Merry Wives *Preview nights of Windsor

TUE WED THU FRI SAT SAT JUNE MON 7.45pm 7.45pm 7.45pm 7.45pm 7.45pm 1.30pm 7.45pm 12* 19* 26

JULY

Sheridan’s classic comedy sparkles with wit, verbal brilliance and an intricate plot exposing the lives and loves of fashionable London society.

Sir Peter Teazle’s simple country bride becomes leader of a group of scandalmongers who tear their friends’ reputations to shreds. Can anyone escape the outrageous gossip of, amongst others, the aptly named Benjamin Backbite, Lady Sneerwell, Mrs Candour and Snake?

The School for Scandal

14 21 28

15 22 29

MON TUE WED THU FRI

16 23 30

SAT

16 23 30

SAT

7.45pm

7.45pm

7.45pm

7.45pm

7.45pm

1.30pm

7.45pm

16

3 10* 17 24 31

4 11* 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

7 14 21 28

30

AUG

13* 20* 27

MON TUE WED THU FRI

SAT

SAT

7.45pm

7.45pm

7.45pm

7.45pm

7.45pm

1.30pm

7.45pm

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

4 11 18 25

TUE WED THU FRI SAT SAT SEPT MON 1.30pm 7.45pm 7.45pm 7.45pm 7.45pm 7.45pm 7.45pm 1

1

2017 PRODUCTIONS

“Rollicking rendition... had the audience in stitches.”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Hobson’s Choice

LEICESTER MERCURY

“Another outstanding performance... nicely judged and hilariously managed.”

PETERBOROUGH TELEGRAPH

“Fantastic play... amazing comic timing... laughing out loud.”

Much Ado About Nothing

STAMFORD MERCURY

PICNICS Enjoy your own picnic in the beautiful gardens before heading into the auditorium to sit back, relax and be entertained. The picnic slope overlooks classic English parkland with historic Tolethorpe Hall in the background.

Alternatively, you can order a ready-prepared picnic for evening performances. There are two to choose from (see opposite page). Only a limited number of picnics are available each night so please order early by calling Prykemans Theatre Catering on 01572 813303.

Grounds open at 12pm for matinée performances and 5pm for evening performances.

Sorry, no barbecues allowed.

READY-PREPARED PICNICS Picnic A

Picnic B

Houmous with caramelised onion with pitta bread Dickinson & Morris Melton Mowbray pork pie slice Chicken tikka drumstick Antipasti of salami & mozzarella Homemade coleslaw Tuscan bean salad Cherry tomatoes Honey flapjack and two mini chocolate éclairs

Sliced Scottish smoked salmon with capers & lemon Italian herb dressed olives & feta cheese Prawn, apple & celery medley Chicken, ham and pork pie Flaked salmon & tiger prawns with a pesto dressing Tuscan bean salad Tomato & basil salad New potato & chive salad Homemade coleslaw Askers Bakery granary roll & butter Baileys & white chocolate cheesecake with strawberries and cream

£15.80 per person All picnics come complete with disposable tableware and cutlery.

Porcelain crockery and Kings pattern cutlery can be ordered for £1.50 each (plus £5 deposit).

£24.50 per person

RESTAURANT, BAR AND SHOP Enjoy a pre-performance buffet meal in the dining rooms of historic Tolethorpe Hall. Choose from a variety of starters followed by the hot dish of the day, carved joints of meats, fresh fish or savoury flans all accompanied by a selection of fresh salads.

Finish your meal with a delicious dessert or cheese, followed by coffee and mints.

ARTWORK In the bar are two stained glass windows designed and made

by Cambridge artist, Tim Armstrong. The windows are believed to be the only examples anywhere in the world of stained glass depicting scenes from eight Shakespeare plays.

The menu changes regularly and there are vegetarian options available. The buffet meal is £23.95 and the restaurant opens at 5.45pm.

Advance booking is essential. Please contact: Prykemans Theatre Catering, The Tithe Barn, Clatterpot Lane, Cottesmore, Rutland, LE15 7DW. Tel: 01572 813303 (10am-4pm, Mon-Fri) Hanging in the orangery is a stunning long-stitch tapestry designed and made by the internationally famous knitwear designer, Kaffe Fassett (below, right). The tapestry depicts hollyhocks, a feature of the Tolethorpe gardens.

The bar opens at 12pm for matinée performances and 5.30pm for evening performances. The shop, serving hot and cold drinks and a variety of snacks, opens at 12.30pm for matinée performances and 6.45pm for evening performances.

TICKET PRICES

HOW TO BOOK

Monday - Thursday: £14 Friday: £16 Saturday: £19 Saturday Matinée: Adult £19 / Child £12 Preview nights: £11

Telephone: 01780 756133 (9.30am-8pm, Mon-Sat) Online: www.stamfordshakespeare.co.uk In person: Stamford Arts Centre,

27 St. Mary’s Street, Stamford,

Lincolnshire, PE9 2DL.

(12/13 June, 19/20 June, 10/11 July)

CONCESSIONS (Mon-Fri): £1 off each ticket for senior citizens, reg. disabled, under 16’s and students.

SCHOOL PARTIES (Mon-Fri): £8 per ticket for parties of 20 or more. Tickets can be reserved as for group bookings.

SEATING PLAN SIDE BLOCK

Wheelchair space O19

SEASON TICKET (Mon-Sat): Book for all three plays at the same time, and get £2 off each ticket.

GROUP BOOKINGS (Mon-Sat): £1 off all seats for 20 or more purchased. Early group reservations can be held for your convenience whilst you are arranging your visit, but must be confirmed and paid for by 1st May 2018.

CENTRE BLOCK

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: No refunds. £1 fee, per ticket, for exchanges. (See Stamford Arts Centre website for details).

Tickets may be purchased on the day (subject to availability) from the box office at Tolethorpe Hall, which opens one hour before performance.

SIDE BLOCK

Wheelchair space O44

P 25 - 43 - 18 P 6 19 5 O - 17 N 3 19 4M - 19 L 5 19 6 K - 19 J 7 - 19 H 8 19 G 9 - 19 0 F 1 19 1E 1 19 21 D 19 31 C 19 4B 1 - 19 5 A 1

O 20 - 42 N 20 - 41 M 20 - 40 L 20 - 39 K 20 - 38 J 20 - 37 H 20 - 36 G 20 - 35 F 20 - 34 E 20 - 33 D 20 - 32 C 20 - 31 B 20 - 30 A 20 - 29

STAGE

P 4 4 O 4 - 59 4 N 4 - 58 660 M 44 L 4 - 59 45 K 4 8 4 J 4 - 57 4 H 4 - 56 4 G 4 - 55 454 F 4 4 E 4 - 53 45 2 D 4 4 C 4 - 51 4 B 4 - 50 449 A 4 448

AGE RESTRICTION: Children under the age of 3 will not be admitted to the auditorium.

DISABLED ACCESS: There are disabled parking areas, disabled toilets and wheelchair access to row ‘O’ (please request wheelchair access when booking).

If help is needed on arrival please notify the office a week ahead on 01780 754381.

HEARING IMPAIRED: There is an induction loop installed in the theatre.

PARKING: There is ample free car and coach parking a moment’s walk from the hall and theatre.

DOGS: Sorry, no dogs allowed.

The 600 seat auditorium faces an open air stage.

The covered auditorium means no performance is ever cancelled due to inclement weather.

MAKING A DAY OF IT

A1

A6121 Bourne, Sleaford, Lincoln

TOLETHORPE HALL

Great Casterton Tickencote B10

81

Empingham

Belmesthorpe Little Casterton

Northfields

A606

STAMFORD

Uffington

Tallington

A1175 Spalding, Boston, Peterborough 3 44 B1

A1

Pilsgate Easton on the Hill

Barnack

A43

A6121 (A47) Uppingham, Ketton Leicester, Birmingham

75

A11

Tinwell

A6 12 1

A606 Oakham, Melton, Nottingham

Follow RAC Shakespeare at Tolethorpe signs through Stamford

Ryhall

A6121

A1 Northbound Grantham, Lincoln, Nottingham

A6121

Tolethorpe Hall lies in the heart of the Welland Valley, just 5 minutes from Stamford and 20 minutes from Oakham, Uppingham, Rutland Water and Peterborough. Nearby attractions include Burghley House, Sacrewell Farm, Peterborough Cathedral and Rockingham, Grimsthorpe and Oakham Castles.

A43 Kettering, Corby, Northampton

Wittering A1

A1 Southbound Peterborough, Cambridge, Huntingdon

STAMFORD SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

Rutland Open Air Theatre, Tolethorpe Hall, Little Casterton, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 4BH. Registered Charity No. 273859

www.stamfordshakespeare.co.uk StamfordShakespeareCompany

@Tolethorpe01