Shakespeare in the Squares today announces its 2017 production of Romeo and Juliet, directed by Tatty Hennessy, which tours to London’s squares and parks from 21 June to 13 July, with a press night at Norland Square on 27 June. The tour follows the company’s successful inaugural production of Much Ado About Nothing in summer 2016 which was performed to sell-out audiences in nine squares across London.
Founded by Sue Fletcher and Martin Neild in 2016, Shakespeare in the Squares is a not-for-profit touring theatre company that stages a Shakespeare play across London squares every summer. The productions are tailored to the individual garden squares, and the company works with the garden committees and other local organisations to create a unique community celebration around the play. The company aims to provide a showcase for talented young theatre practitioners and to introduce audiences to the stars of the future.
Shakespeare in the Squares’ new production of Romeo and Juliet, the most youthful, full-blooded and sexually charged of all Shakespeare’s tragedies, is situated in 1950s Naples. Full of paeans to the speed of young love, the rashness of quick violence and the heat of the summer, it is an exploration of the generational divide between the young and old, and the devastating consequences of blindly inherited feuds.
Shakespeare in the Squares today also announces Judi Dench as Patron of the company. Dench said, “When I first heard about Shakespeare in the Squares, my instant reaction was, ‘That is a marvellous idea; why hasn’t anyone done it before?’ To take William Shakespeare, whose timeless plays always have something important to say about the human condition, into idyllic gardens and other iconic spaces, offers a great opportunity to engage new and non-traditional audiences of all ages. It also provides talented young practitioners with a showcase to display their skills at an early stage in their careers, and the Company’s aim to do this is to be hugely welcomed. I am delighted to support this imaginative and ambitious initiative and hope that it will quickly spread far-and-wide.”
Photo by Matthew White
Tatty Hennessy recently directed The Snow Queen (Theatre N16) and Acorn (Courtyard Theatre). She has directed work for Pint Sized, Miniaturists, Theatre Renegade, Not Too Tame, and The Reversed Shakespeare Company. She is an associate director with Merely Theatre, a Shakespeare repertory company about to embark on their second UK and Ireland tour. She has been an associate director at the Lyric Theatre, Park Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe, including The Duchess of Malfi in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, and the world tour of Hamlet, which visited every country in the world over two years. She is also a playwright and graduate of the Royal Court and Lyric Young Writers’ Programmes.
SUMMER 2017 SCHEDULE
(further venues to be announced shortly)
All performances at 7pm
Wednesday 21st June Leinster Square, W2
Thursday 22nd June St James’s Gardens, W11
Friday 23rd June Elgin & Arundel Gardens, W11
Saturday 24th June Queen’s Park, NW6
Tuesday 27th June Norland Square, W11 (press night)
