A truly unique theatrical experience awaits this summer!

British Touring Shakespeare and Soulton Hall proudly present Shakespeare’s enchanting comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, performed within the Hall’s historic and rarely seen Epidaurus Court.

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For the first time in centuries, this remarkable 16th-century space, dormant of performance since at least 1783, will be brought to life, offering a rare glimpse into how Renaissance and Shakespeare’s plays might have been experienced centuries ago.

This is a truly authentic  setting, offering a unique opportunity to witness theatre as it was intended.

Two Gentlemen of Verona Performed by the same company at Soulton Hall

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a particularly fitting choice for Soulton Hall, given its rich history and fascinating literary connections.

Old Sir Rowland Hill, the visionary behind Soulton Hall’s extraordinary Renaissance design, was captivated by the classical allure of Eleusis, near Athens, a fascination he encoded into the layout of the Hall. Remarkably, both the Ancient Telesterion of Greece and Soulton’s Renaissance complex share the same dimensions: 55 yards square.

British Touring Shakespeare present – Mis Summer Nights Dream at Soulton Hall

This same classical influence resonates throughout Shakespeare’s play, notably in Lysander’s description of a location near Athens associated with ancient mysteries (Act 1, Scene 1). The play’s themes of love, magic, and the natural world find a perfect echo within Soulton Hall’s Tudor grounds.

The performance will culminate in the play’s iconic dance of eight characters in Theseus’s Hall, a delightful nod to the famous dance for eight in As You Like It.

This connection is especially significant considering Soulton Hall’s close ties to As You Like It through Thomas Lodge Jr., whose Rosalynde provided Shakespeare’s source material. Adding to this rich tapestry of connections is Old Sir Rowland Hill’s cousinhood with Shakespeare’s mother and the presence of Soulton’s historic dancing pavement. Sir Rowland Hill is also believed to be the inspiration for Old Sir Rowland in As You Like It.

The performance will naturally feature the four intertwined couples of A Midsummer Night’s Dream—Theseus and Hippolyta, Lysander and Hermia, Demetrius and Helena, and Oberon and Titania—celebrating their unions in a harmonious dance, mirroring the themes of reconciliation and restored order found in As You Like It.

‘Merry Wives of Windsor’ – performed by the same company at Soulton Hall

Join us for an immersive theatrical event that promises to be a highlight of the summer season. Experience Shakespeare in a way that resonates with Soulton Hall’s own captivating past, a truly unforgettable blend of history, literature, and performance.

Cast

Paul Winterford – Theseus/Oberon

Kate Andrews – Hippolyta/Titania

SP Howarth – Puck

Andrew Hobbs – Egeus/Bottom

Tom Thornhill – Lysander/Snout/Cobweb

Carys Clempner  – Hermia/Starveling/Moth

Maximilian L’Olive – Demetrius/Flute/Mustardseed

Alice Gold – Helena/Snug/Peaseblosom

Alistair Smith – Quince/Philostrate/Apollo