Laughs a plenty with this play by the Bard on stage in Parson Drove for a free performance

sarah.cliss@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Published: 09:53, 28 August 2024

Fans of Shakespeare are in for a treat next month when a local venue hosts an outdoor performance of one of the Bard’s most popular plays.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is being performed by This is My Theatre at the St John the Baptist Church in Parson Drove – and the event on September 7 is free and family-friendly.

Gates open at 5.30pm so feel free to go along and take a picnic. The curtain up is at 7pm. Playgoers are advised to bring their own seating, to wear appropriate warm clothing, and/or to take blankets.

Bottom and Titania are two of the characters set to delight audiences with a production of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream at Parson Drove. Picture: This is My Theatre

If a picnic is not your thing then Mally’s Pizzas will be on hand to provide sustenance.

There will be a licensed bar and a fabulous raffle.

Organisers have a contingency plan to move the performance into the church if the weather proves uncooperative on the night.

Bottom and his troupe of would-be thespians rehearse their play in the woods. Picture: This is My Theatre

For those who don’t know this Shakespearean comedy, it is set in the woods outside Athens on what proves to be a very busy midsummer’s night.

Four young Athenian lovers are lost, the king and queen of the fairies are quarreling and causing mischief, while a group of craftsmen and amateur actors are meeting to rehearse secretly a play they hope to perform for the king.

There is lots of mistaken identity and magic involved which is what makes this one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies.

This is My Theatre is a Sussex-based company created in 2016 that tours all over the UK with creative productions for all spaces including churches and open-air venues.

Whilst the main aim of the company is to produce classical plays and literature accessible to all, particularly those living in rural communities, the group also create commissioned works to bring to life ideas to venues and engage visitors.

Oberon and Titania are the king and queen of the fairies in Midsummer Night's Dream. Picture: This is My Theatre

Audiences enjoyed a production of Beowulf earlier this summer at St John the Baptist Church in Parson Drove.

Paul Unwin, of Friends of St John’s, explained the charitable organisation aims to offer as many free and low-priced performances as possible at the church thanks to fundraising and also with the help of grants including from Cambridgeshire Community Fund, and Fenland District Council.

While the show is free people are asked to make a small donation in the buckets available on the night. People also need to book their free tickets at www.thisismytheatre.com or email churchendevents@btinternet.com

Events Human Interest Sarah Cliss