We were delighted to recently host British Touring Shakespeare for their production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and we are especially grateful for the kind words shared by one of their keen followers, the motorcycle blogger Blac Ridere.
British Touring Shakespeare: The company for ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ 2025, in Epidaurus Court
Their recent post, “Seek First to Understand,” captures the spirit of the journey and the sense of place at Soulton Hall.
We were particularly struck by the author’s observations on the journey itself, a testament to how even the travel to a destination can be an adventure. They described their arrival with a wonderful sense of personal discovery:
The rest of the ride is uneventful. We reach the Shropshire border and roll through the beautiful countryside until the iconic and instantly recognisable shape of Soulton Hall appears on our left. I bounce Veronica into the gate across the generously spaced (to put it politely) cattle grid and we are greeted by Tim of the Ashton family who have been custodians of the hall for many generations.
The blog post also touches on the unique aspects of Soulton Hall’s history and architecture, which made the performance in our Epidaurus Court all the more meaningful.
The author’s observation on the connection between our heritage and the performance is something we deeply appreciate:
The performance culminates with a dance performed by the cast, choreographed by British Touring Shakespeare’s Lucyelle Cliffe, West End star, dancer, choreographer, and deep spiritual thinker. The dance is a very strong nod to the one in As You like which itself is recorded in Soulton Hall’s annals and immortalised in its logo and its dancing pavement mosaic. Historical, spiritual and geometric continuity is present, and the magic of theatre ensures a kind of oneness between the cast, the audience, the hosts, and those of us who had a hand in enabling it.
We were especially touched by the author’s philosophical reflections on the event.
Their concluding thoughts remind us that our work here is about more than just preserving a building; it’s about sharing a living tradition:
I lean back in my camping chair and observe the scene around and in front of me, against the backdrop of the magnificent building with both its hidden and obvious meanings.
You can read Blac Ridere’s full blog post and see their photos here.
