Wells Theatre Festival 2018

Tickets are now on sale for the first ever Wells Theatre Festival, which will bring an exciting programme of theatre and workshops to Wells for the first time. The Festival is the brainchild of Artistic Director Rosalind Johnson who moved to the city twelve years ago with her family. Ros is a former assistant director at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. She is passionate about communities, especially young people, having access to high quality theatre. At the heart of the Festival is the community performance of Romeo and Juliet. The production which will be performed on the Green in front of the Cathedral is entirely cast from residents with 15-year-old Julian Laws of Blagdon and 16-year-old Beth Millward of Shepton Mallet in the title roles. As Festival Patron Dame Judi Dench says "It is wonderful to be able to introduce young people to Shakespeare. Hopefully, they will be hooked for the rest of their lives, as I was.”

The Festival programme also includes a mix of world class theatre including a sell out show from Broadway along with a series of workshops run by leading theatre practitioners including: Directing Shakespeare by Sir Richard Eyre, Musical Memories from actor Clarke Peters (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri and The Wire), and a Harold Pinter workshop from director Harry Burton. As well as the Cathedral Green, venues for the festival include: Wells Museum, The Bishop’s Barn, The Bishop’s Palace, Cedars Hall and the Little Theatre.

 

For those with an interest in learning about costume design, there are also three weekend workshops by Glastonbury-based costume designer Anna Dixon. These workshops offer a rare opportunity for anyone to have a go at making their own Elizabethan costumes or explore the skills involved in up cycling and remodelling an existing garment and recreating the fashions of the Elizabethan period.

The Festival has been made possible through sponsorship by local business but the organisers need to raise another £8000. If you would like to be a supporter of the Wells Theatre Festival, the organisers are running a Kickstarter Crowdfunding campaign and have until the 23 of April to hit the target. Money raised will fund technical and backstage costs of the community production and ensure as many children and young people can take part in the festival for free.

For more information about the Festival shows and workshops, the Costume workshops and the Kickstarter campaign and to book tickets visit:

www.wellstheatrefestival.org

Show dates: 12/07/2018 - 15/07/2018

Book here