Latest news with #MerryWivesofWindsor
Time Out
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Five great open air theatre shows to watch while London swelters this summer
London is hot right now. Literally. And it's only going to get hotter. Next week, it'll probably cool down a bit at the start and then get hot again. It's basically unbearable, but at the same time it's outdoor frickin' theatre season, baby. Where better to cool down than at an open air theatre with a gentle night breeze and glass of something cold, preferably watching something classy but not aggressively difficult. Here are five outdoor shows on right now or about to start that will take you outside the scorching concrete hellscape that is our beloved city. 1. The free outdoor musicals festival Is it possible to simply show tune your way through 30-plus degree heat? They'll be giving it their best try at West End Live this weekend, the two day festival at which the cast of pretty much every musical in town will be singing a song or two, for free, in Trafalgar Square. The catch? The best shows are early on the Saturday, and it'll hit capacity rapidly. Plus it'll be 'el scorchio'. For a complete guide including full line up, head here. Trafalgar Square, Sat Jul 21 and Sun Jul 22. 2. Shakespeare's daftest play The Globe has fine productions of Romeo and Juliet and Arthur Miller's The Crucible currently in its rep. But if tragic deaths and people named Goody are a bit much for your heat fogged brain, get down to its new production of Shakespeare's dumbest play. The Merry Wives of Windsor is a joyously silly romp in which his beloved character Falstaff – who dies offstage in Henry V, which is set in 1415 – is somehow not only alive but getting up to mischief with the womenfolk of Elizabethan England. It's a hoot! Shakespeare's Globe, Jul 4-Sep 20. Buy tickets here. 3. A YA thriller There'll be nothing trashy about the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's stage adaptation of Malorie Blackman's immortal dystopian race drama Noughts & Crosses. However, it's not going to be arty, impenetrable theatre: it's a thriller, a properly accessible, teen-orientated story that should get the pulse pounding enough to let you forget the heat. Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, Jun 28-Jul 26. Buy tickets here. 4. Shakespeare's darkest play (but fun!) Okay that was a bit of a shout back to number two: The Taming of the Shrew probably isn't really Shakespeare's darkest play, but taken at face value its account of how boisterous Petruchio breaks the spirit of the feisty Katherina is pretty damn problematic. But you can massage it to make it a lot less grim, and I gather that's the deal with this pop song-saturated production from the redoubtable Shakespeare in the Squares. They're midway through their annual tour of London's outdoor spaces – check out the schedule to see if they're coming near to you soon. Various venues, now until Jul 12. 5. Stand in the street and watch Rachel Zegler sing 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' Jamie Lloyd's Evita revival has made worldwide headlines this week for its typically ballsy showstopper moment, wherein US star Zegler sings the anthemic 'Don't Cry to Me Argentina' from a balcony on Argyll Street. Nobody is suggesting that this constitutes an entire theatre show, but it's a uniquely London theatrical moment that will probably never be repeated in our lifetimes, and you do get a pretty banging song sung by a celebrity for five minutes or so at a time of day (around 9pm) when the temperature is finally something approaching 'pleasant'.
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Bengaluru-based theatre group, Samashti, celebrates 25 years with a three-day theatre festival
Samashti, a Bengaluru-based theatre group celebrates its silver jubilee with a three-day theatre festival in Bengaluru, between June 3 and 5. It will stage three of its popular comedies at Rangashankara. The three plays to be staged are Neeru Kudisida Neereyaru, Mukkam Post Bombilwadi and Miss Sadarame. The first play is based on Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor. 'This play weaves together hilarious situations and we have adapted it to our language and culture,' says Manjunath L Badiger, a senior member of Samashti and director of the play. 'The events play out in a town called Terakanambi in the Mysuru region.' The other play directed by Manjunath, to be staged at the festival is Miss Sadarame. 'Eminent theatre personality KV Subbanna improvised the story of Sadarame as Miss Sadarame. The original was scripted by Bellave Narahari Shastry. Our experiment with Sadarame is a bit different from the original.' Mukkam Post Bombilwadi will be staged on June 5. This play is directed by Ravindra Poojary, who founded Samashti with theatre and film director Jayateertha in 2000. 'It is a work of fiction, where Hitler, having travelled to Japan to acquire the formula to make an atomic bomb, reaches Bombilwadi instead of his home,' says Ravindra. 'He goes to a police station in the hopes of using a wireless transmitter, and is dispatched to a drama company.' An emotional Manjunath, who studied theatre at Ninasam, reveals that his theatre journey took wings with Samashti and that he completes 25 years in group. 'Way before we formed Samashti, the three of us were actively involved in street plays. Ravindra and Jayateertha are trained at Abhinaya Taranga. Once they passed out, we decided to start Samashti. We always direct our plays and try to encourage our members. We also organise free theatre workshops for schools and colleges. Our workshops cover acting, mime, rhythm, mime, yakshagana, intonation and, make-up etc.' Samashti was started with the objective of discovering new aspirants, training them in all aspects of theatre and bringing them into the mainstream of Kannada Theatre, Ravindra says. 'Once we passed out of Abhinaya Taranga, we wanted to start off on our own and till date we have staged 23 plays with Samashti. All our plays are based on published plays, novels and poetry. The basis of selecting plays is to take up a new production, one which has a concept that is new or rare. We also keep in mind the audience and choose plays that are humourous. We work with plays that give us the space to bring all theatrical elements to life on stage including music, costumes and sets.' Samashti's play Chitapata is the winner of 3 META awards and it has been staged at the International Theatre Festival of NSD, Bharat Rang Mahotsav and Rangayana's Bahuroopi. Samashti Theatre festival will be held at Ranga Shankara from June 3 to 5. All plays begin at 7.30am. Tickets on BookMyShow.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cotswold Olimpicks could be added to Heritage list
The addition of the Cotswold Olimpicks to a new heritage list could be "vital" for its future, a historian has said. The event takes place in Chipping Campden and counts the world shin-kicking championships and tug o' war among its disciplines. The government will soon be seeking submissions from the public to nominate their favourite traditions that best reflect the nation, which will be recorded in the new Inventory of Living Heritage in the UK. Graham Greenall, a custodian of the event's 400-year history, said its inclusion on the list would be "vital" because "it is the traditions of ordinary people that could go missing". More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire The Cotswold Olimpicks was started by Robert Dover, an author and attorney, who, after moving to Chipping Campden, wanted to channel the competitive traits of residents in 1612. It is thought William Shakespeare may have attended the games in their early days, shortly before his death in 1616. The wrestling scene in As You Like It and the line "How did your dog run on Cotsall (Cotswold)?" in the Merry Wives of Windsor are thought to be inspired by the games. Cheese rolling on Cooper's Hill, surfing the Severn Bore, and the Woolsack Races in Tetbury may also be submitted for the list. Mr Greenall said, despite the global recognition some Gloucestershire traditions receive, their inclusion on the list would prevent them from going "missing". "Royalty [is] self-sustaining, but with cheese rolling and the football in the river, if they stop for a while, it's quite difficult to resurrect things," he said. "I think the best part about it is all these traditions, although they're incredibly well known, are all run and funded by locals. "It's their traditions, it's their thing." The government will work with the devolved governments to create the list and will consider submissions from across the UK. It comes after the UK signed the 2003 Unesco Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Culture Heritage, which requires member states to compile an inventory of living heritage practised by communities in each country. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Cheese rolling contestants take on Cooper's Hill Organisers 'excited' for return of Woolsack Race Cotswold Olimpick Games
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Cotswold Olimpicks supporters want event on heritage list
The addition of the Cotswold Olimpicks to a new heritage list could be "vital" for its future, a historian has event takes place in Chipping Campden and counts the world shin-kicking championships and tug o' war among its government will soon be seeking submissions from the public to nominate their favourite traditions that best reflect the nation, which will be recorded in the new Inventory of Living Heritage in the Greenall, a custodian of the event's 400-year history, said its inclusion on the list would be "vital" because "it is the traditions of ordinary people that could go missing". The Cotswold Olimpicks was started by Robert Dover, an author and attorney, who, after moving to Chipping Campden, wanted to channel the competitive traits of residents in is thought William Shakespeare may have attended the games in their early days, shortly before his death in wrestling scene in As You Like It and the line "How did your dog run on Cotsall (Cotswold)?" in the Merry Wives of Windsor are thought to be inspired by the rolling on Cooper's Hill, surfing the Severn Bore, and the Woolsack Races in Tetbury may also be submitted for the list. 'It's their traditions' Mr Greenall said, despite the global recognition some Gloucestershire traditions receive, their inclusion on the list would prevent them from going "missing"."Royalty [is] self-sustaining, but with cheese rolling and the football in the river, if they stop for a while, it's quite difficult to resurrect things," he said."I think the best part about it is all these traditions, although they're incredibly well known, are all run and funded by locals."It's their traditions, it's their thing."The government will work with the devolved governments to create the list and will consider submissions from across the comes after the UK signed the 2003 Unesco Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Culture Heritage, which requires member states to compile an inventory of living heritage practised by communities in each country.
