A THEATRE themed family trail aims to bring Shakespeare to would-be audiences on the outside.
A new installation for families has been installed on the Bancroft Terrace outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Designed by Andrew Lock and Fiona Barlow, this immersive family trail has been designed with social-distancing in mind and takes its inspiration from the plot, themes and characters of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors, which was set to run in spring but postponed due to the ongoing impact of covid-19.
Featuring a series of interconnected floor-based vinyls, families are invited to join estranged twins Antipholus of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus and their servants Dromio of Ephesus and Dromio of Syracuse on a perilous journey across the ocean in search of their long lost brothers.
Follow in the footsteps of Shakespeare’s hapless heroes as they brave storm, shipwreck, strange new worlds, high-seas and high-jinks to be re-united with their long-lost family once more with this colourful journey through Shakespeare’s fairy-tale farce.
This new piece of work builds on the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) Inside Out programme, a new area of free events and activities on the Bancroft Terrace which aims to bring the world of theatre from inside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre to the outside.
Events spokeswman Geraldine Collinge said: “As families across the region return to Stratford-upon-Avon for their summer holidays, we wanted to create a piece of work which captured the spirit of our ‘Inside Out’ programme of free pop-up activities on the Bancroft Terrace, that didn’t rely on visitors having to touch or engage with a structure of any kind. Working with our brilliant designers Andrew Lock and Fiona Barlow and creative consultant Hal Chambers, who is also assistant director of The Comedy of Errors, we have come up with a fun, floor-based alternative which can be enjoyed in a fully socially-distanced way. We hope this specially-adapted family trail will offer added reassurance to visitors whilst, at the same time, entertaining and inspiring young people through their discovery of Shakespeare’s characters and works!”
Visitors can continue to enjoy a daily takeaway service from the RSC’s Riverside Café and ‘Rocket’ Ice Cream, open from 10am to 4pm daily.
Customers are asked that they observe social distancing throughout their visit, using the markings on the pavement and payment is by contactless card only.
