A Greek tragedy and a production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream are included in this year’s run of Bard In The Botanics.
The summer programme for the ever-popular West End outdoor theatre event has just been announced.
And the season will see Bard in the Botanics return to the Kibble Palace for the first time since the pandemic.
The run opens with a new, mainstage production of evergreen favourite, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Jennifer Dick.
A new version of Euripides’ Medea, commissioned from playwright Kathy McKean and directed by Gordon Barr, will star acclaimed actor Nicole Cooper.
Nicole Cooper also makes her directorial debut with a new production of The Tempest.
'Delighted'
And a new production of Gordon’s ground-breaking take on Much Ado About Nothing completes the 2022 line up.
The 2022 season runs from Friday June 22 to Saturday July 30.
“We are delighted to be returning to The Kibble Palace for this year’s season with productions that showcase the dramatic talent of one of Bard’s long-time core artists, Nicole Cooper ” says Gordon Barr, Bard in the Botanics’ artistic director.
“We have been planning our first foray into Greek tragedy for three years and it is exciting to see this idea now coming to fruition.
“Working with Kathy McKean, whose version of Medea has been conceived not only for the Kibble, but especially for Nicole, is a tremendous pleasure.
“Nicole will also make her directorial debut with Bard this year, creating a new version of Shakespeare’s final play, The Tempest.
We are delighted to be returning to The Kibble Palace for this year’s season with productions that showcase the dramatic talent of one of Bard’s long-time core artists, Nicole Cooper.
Gordon Barr
“She has adapted the play using the unique backdrop of the historic glasshouse and tapping in to the emotions felt by so many people now as they experience the disintegration caused by dementia.”
“For our mainstage shows comedy will be to the fore this year,” he adds.
“It is over a decade since we presented a mainstage version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, so the time was absolutely right to return to this ever popular play in a new version directed by Jennifer Dick.
“In the second half of the season we will revisit our particular take on Much Ado About Nothing bringing Bertram and Benedick back to the stage in a brand new production.”
