Adventures for kids!

To mark the opening of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on June 27,  we have come up with ten adventures for children inspired by the Shakespeare's plays. Although the majority of these ideas can be put into practice in your own back garden, some of them will enable young fans to discover Shakespeare stories hidden all around Staffordshire and the country.  

  

1. Pet a donkey: One of the funniest characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream is Bottom. He provides comic relief throughout the play and, during its course; his head is transformed into that of a donkey by the fairy Puck. So why not spend a summer’s day with the children visiting a donkey sanctuary or farm? Amerton Farm in Staffordshire has a petting area where you can see the two donkeys alongside chickens, cows, pigs, cats and a dog!

2. Make friends with a fairy: Another interesting activity for a little one is making friends with fairies! Yes, fairies! Cannock Chase has loads of them hidden amongst trees and shrubs. Parents and their children could spend an exciting morning trying to make friends with a fairy and take a picture of one of these magical creatures.

3. Make a Shakespeare inspired costume: This one is an easy task, which only requires some old rags, bits of fabric, rope... and lots of imagination! Fairies, wild creatures, kings and knights costumes can be brought to life with a little effort and some creativity.

4. Throw a Shakespeare party: Once your costume is ready, why not show it off to friends? Organising a Shakespeare inspired children’s party would be a great incentive for the little ones to see their projects though and get recognition for their hard work. Don’t forget the party food though!

5. Organise a Ghost Hunt: Shakespeare was passionate about the supernatural and many of his characters are actually ghosts: Banquo (Macbeth), Caesar (Julius Caesar), the ghost of Hamlet’s father (Hamlet), ghosts of Edward Prince of Wales and Henry VI (Richard III). So why nor organise a ghost hunt for those adventurous littlies? Spooky!

6. Throw a masked ball: If you thought putting together a Shakespearean costume was exciting and fun, why not try and craft a mask as well? And there's lots of Shakespearian inspiration to choose from; whether it’s a donkey mask, a lion or any other mystical creature, the little ones will get hours of fun out of it.

7. Put on a play: Your mask and costume’s ready so how about putting on a play? There are lots of children’s versions of Shakespeare’s comedies available, so let your little one’s dramatic talent shine through. The best performances could be rewarded with small prizes like books, party bags or other little treats.

8. Make some music: There’s nothing more inspiring than learning how to play an instrument and it’s often one of the skills adults most wish they had picked up as a child. Lots of summer schools organise music classes, so why not check out the local offerings and see what instruments best suits your child?

9. Make some magic: Shakespeare's characters often appeal to magic when trying to solve problems. Children could have a stab at creating their own magic spell; try doing this on a rainy day and encourage them to create a spell which brings back the warm weather! This is Britain after all; we could all do with a sunny day!

10. Take a witch photo: All you need is a broom, a camera and a pointy hat! Ask the child to jump while holding the broom and try shooting the photo while they're in mid air. The result is a picture that makes them look like they are flying on an enchanted broomstick.

If you found these tips useful and fun, bring the little ones to see amazing costumes, magic 
 settings and great music at this year's Stafford Festival Shakespeare. Tickets are available 
for as little as £10 and can be purchased by calling the friendly box office on 01785 254653 or by visiting www.staffordfestivalshakespeare.co.uk

Bottom's Blog: Week 2

The cast and crew have had another busy week, but have still found time for a cheeky slice of cake or two!

Read on to see how week two was for Eric Potts.



The Mechanicals rehearse with Peter Rowe



"To be honest, this week has seemed a bit of a dream...It has gone so fast!! Rehearsals continue apace, both acting and music and the lovely ladies of the wardrobe department have started the process of costume fittings alongside Libby our lovely designer. I am pleased to say that the measurements I sent in a few weeks ago still seem to be accurate and my costume fits despite the cherry scones and banana loaf I may or may not have been consuming on a regular basis from the Gatehouse Theatre Coffee Shop. (We are working very hard, we all have to keep our strength up!!)

We seem to have achieved a great deal this week including the staging of Pyramus & Thisbe - the play within the play, which I promise you will be different to and funnier than any version you have ever seen before!



Eric, Andy, Phylip and James in music rehearsals.



On a sadder note...the sunshine streaming in our music studio skylights faded to such an extent that Peter Rowe our esteemed director had to delay the start of rehearsals until he had popped to M & S to purchase some dry socks after he and his cycle were caught in a deluge on the way to work! Let's hope that is the last downpour until July 14th!!

This week the final touches and for me, the dreaded D word...dance!!  I will keep you all posted!



Eric xx"

Summer Cinema at Shugborough!

On Saturday 17^th August Shugborough will host a family-friendly screening of Dreamworks’ ‘Madagascar’ during the afternoon, with the smash-hit turned cinema box-office favourite ‘Mamma Mia’ in the evening. Offering two fantastic events to delight young and old, that it’s hoped will see ‘Summer Cinema’ return year on year.

The 40sqm LED screen and stunning surround sound system with Blu Ray format film, will be almost three times bigger than in 2011 when films were last screened in the magnificent parkland setting of the Shugborough Estate. Following on from the success of those events, Stafford-based Generate Events, have invested heavily in the quality of the cinematic experience and added lots of additional attractions and activities, whilst at the same time keeping standard ticket prices the same.

Gates open at midday for ‘Madagascar’ with the film screening at 1.30pm as part of a fun-filled day out for families, which also includes Signal Radio’s Family Roadshow, music, face-painting, fancy dress and competitions. Families can even bring their own food and drinks along, to enjoy a picnic whilst they watch. Advance tickets are priced at just £20 for a family of four, or individually priced at £6 per person. Tickets also include parking and entry to the magnificent Shugborough Estate, so offer great value for a family day out on a budget.

 “There’s plenty of space for kids to run around and play safely, if they can’t sit still long enough to watch a film” said Generate Events’ Matt Hudson “ I know many parents can’t take kids to an indoor cinema for that very reason, so this venue is perfect!”

In the evening, it’s time to warm up the vocal cords and get your dancing shoes on, as Shugborough gets ready to party! With an all-star cast including Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Julie Walters, ‘Mamma Mia’ is a perennial girl’s night out favourite.

Signal Radio will get the party started when gates re-open at 6pm, with ‘Mamma Mia’ screening from 8pm. “We’ve created a really fabulous event with real fun and sparkle” said Matt “With advance tickets from just £8 up to limited VIP Guest Tickets at £18 which include priority parking, queue-jumping entry, a private drinks service, preferential viewing area, even luxury loos – there are all the ingredients for everyone to enjoy a great night out with friends and family.”

Visitors to both events have the choice to bring their own picnics, food, drinks, picnic blankets and fold-out chairs and relax in the beautiful surroundings of Shugborough. For those who prefer, both events will also offer bars, a selection of hot food outlets, ice-cream, popcorn and coffee.

Tickets for ‘Madagascar’ are £6.60 per person or £22 for a Family Ticket (2 adults + 2 children).

Tickets for ‘Mamma Mia’ are £11 per person, £8.80 for concessions and £19.80 for VIP Guest Tickets. (Prices include all booking fees)

All tickets can be booked via Stafford Gatehouse Theatre.

For large group bookings (10 or more) and gazebo bookings call Generate Events on 01785 887856.



Bottom's Blog

The lovely Eric Potts has written a guest blog for us! Eric will be playing Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream and here's how the first week of rehearsals went for him:

Week One.

And so, as the cast, creative team, stage management and technical crew converged on sunny Stafford, the excitement grew as this year’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the castle continued to approach apace!

I seem to have spent a significant number of days staring longingly out at the sun from within the confines of the Gatehouse Theatre – and this week proved to be much the same. 

Phyl Harries in rehearsal with musical
director Greg Palmer

Week One of rehearsals and the set was marked out on the Gatehouse stage whilst the Copeland Room, bathed in warm sunlight through the glass panels on the roof became the production’s music studio. A Monday morning read-through of the play followed by a look at the wonderful costume drawings and impressive set – (much more open this year, cleverly using the natural landscape of the castle site – still with some very clever surprises though!!) – and after the obligatory first day lunch of a jacket spud from the potato man on Market Square the rehearsal process began.  Whilst the “mechanicals” tried to master some of the music featuring in this year’s show, the “lovers” started to plot their amorous journeys through the wonderful text.

It’s been a great first week, and so lovely to be back in Stafford. I can safely say already that “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is going to be one of the best, and funniest productions at the Castle and should you wish to glimpse my Bottom in the midst of many other wonderfully talented performers get booking those seats for a night of fun and music in the shadow of the stunning Stafford Castle.

Will keep you all updated next week!!

Eric x

A Midsummer Night's Dream: Full Cast

The cast have arrived and rehearsals are in full swing. We are very excited to have the following talented actors with us!

Andy Cresswell

Snout

Andy's numerous theatre credits include The Government Inspector, Water Babies and Treasure Island for Northern Broadsides. His other Shakespeare credits include Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Ricahrd III, all for Heartbreak Productions.

Robert Fitch

Theseus

Robert trained at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts. Alongside his
numerous theatre credits, he is also a talented musician and has toured
with the band Zed as a bass and harmonica player. His television and
film credits include Doctors and Shaun Of The Dead.

Craig Fletcher

Lysander

Craig trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Since graduating
from RADA, Craig has recently played the role of Guy Kirk in the British
Premier of the American Musical Boy Meets Boy. His other theatre
credits include Sky in the West End production Mamma Mia!




Jennifer Greenwood

Hermia

Jennifer trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Her theatre credits include Dancing At Lughnasa, Tobacco Factory; Knives In Hens, Greenwich Theatre; Health Wealth, Old Vic New Voices.

James Haggie

Flute

Following his popular performance as Balthasar in 2012's Romeo and Juliet,  the talented actor and musician is back! James is also well known and loved for his regular appearances in the Rock 'n' Roll pantomimes at Theatr Clwyd.

Phylip Harries

Quince

Phylip makes a very welcome return to SFS following his hugely popular performances in Dromio of Ephesus in The Comedy of Errors and as Sir Hugh Evans in The Merry Wives of Windsor. Families may also recognise him from his performance as Mouse in Theatr Na n'Og's Aesop's Fables which visited the Gatehouse last year. The company's latest production We Need Bees, directed by Phylip has just visited the Gatehouse in May!

Anthony Hunt

Starveling

Most recently Anthony has performed in Mother Courage at the Lowry Theatre. Anthony returns to Stafford Festival Shakespeare after his well received performance as Friar Lawrence in 2012's Romeo and Juliet.

Simone James

Titania

Not just a talented actress, Simone is also a highly skilled dancer. Most recently she performed as Melody in Neghbors at the HighTide Festival Theatre. Simone's television credits include Silent Witness. Eastenders and Holby City.

Paul Kissaun

 Egeus

Paul is delighted to be back this year having appeared last year in Romeo and Juliet as Montague and the Apothecary. During the 80's and 90's Paul was a member of The Flying Pickets with whom he still makes the occasional appearance. Paul's other theatre credits include Wind In The Willows, National Theatre and Alive In Wonderland, Royal Shakespeare Company.

Lanre Malaolu

Puck

A talented dancer and actor, Lanre's theatre credits include Marate/Sade and A Midsummer Night's Dream, both RSC; and Macbeth, Globe. His television credits include The Bill, The Armstrong and Miller Show and Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor.

 

Eamonn O'Dwyer

Demetrius

Stafford Festival Shakespeare fans will recognise Eamonn from his performance as Antipholus of Ephesus in 2011's The Comedy of Errors. Eamonn's other theatre credits include The Glass Menagerie, Chipping Norton Theatre; The Tempert, Watermill Theatre; and War Horse, West End.

Eric Potts

Bottom

Eric last performed to critical acclaim at Stafford Festival Shakespeare in 2011 as Dromio of Syracuse, in The Comedy of Errors. He is also fondly known for playing Diggory Compton in Coronation Street.



Georgina White

Helena

Most recently Georgina has played the lead role of Betty in the Blonde Bombshells of 1943 at the Oldham Coliseum and the New Vic Theatre. She also starred as Olivia in the Stafford Festival Shakespeare production of Twelfth Night in 2009. Georgina is a talented singer and musician, specialising in piano and bassoon.