"What We May Be" in Summer: our Glasgow festival 2014

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How do we choose which plays to do and when to do them? Well, we don’t have a big Shakespeare Wall-chart in the office on which we slowly check the plays off with a satisfying Sharpie tick, although come to think of it that might be fun. Of course, one of our goals is eventually to have performed all of Shakespeare’s plays, but programming is not an exact science and every decision is influenced by many factors, some of them artistic, some of them pragmatic. Take this year for instance. We talked about what we wanted to do, what hadn’t we done in a while, what had we never done, what does the audience want, how can we balance giving the audience what they want with giving them something new and challenging, what plays work together as a season and so on. Casting is a massive part of programming too. So is location. We are, after all, mainly an outdoor theatre company.

And which comes first, the programme or the theme? That is definitely a chicken and egg question, but mostly we find that, having chosen a programme of plays that feels right, the theme emerges organically. The plays feel right together for us because they do share common threads.

Try as we might we couldn’t force a theme that connected directly with the Commonwealth Games, an event that will draw large numbers of visitors to our city during the period we perform. Believe it or not one of us was actually heard to speak the phrase “Shakespeare just isn’t very commonwealthy!” But when we thought about the other major event preoccupying our nation this year, our season’s theme seemed obvious.

Our plays this summer all investigate identity, nationality & leadership at a time when these issues will be at the forefront of Scottish life. Which, when you think about it, is a theme that isn’t just about the Independence Referendum, but is about the Commonwealth Games too. It’s about who we are and what we are, as people, as communities, as countries.

How does a person, a community, a nation define their identity? What are the costs and compromises a person or a nation has to make to define or defend that identity? What should government and leadership look like? What should we demand of our leaders and of ourselves?

So there you have it. That’s what we are doing this year. Did you notice how I didn’t tell you what any of the plays are?

“Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be.” (Hamlet, Act 4; Scene 5)

Romeo and Juliet tour dates announced - Autumn 2013

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Bard in the Botanics are delighted to announce details of our first Autumn tour. 2012’s sell-out production of Shakespeare’s classic tale, “Romeo and Juliet”, will be touring venues in September and October 2013, directed again by Artistic Director, Gordon Barr.

“These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which as they kiss consume”

An ancient feud between the Capulets and Montagues rips apart the city of Verona. A young generation, caught up in its violence and hatred, perpetuates a situation over which they have no control. When Romeo and Juliet, children of the two mortal enemies, meet and fall passionately in love, they set in motion a chain of events that will destroy not only themselves but many of their friends. Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, this 5-star production retells Shakespeare’s enduring story through the eyes of a younger generation betrayed by their elders and struggling to make sense of their emotions in a world they haven’t created. Following his acclaimed performance as Bertram in this summer’s “Much Ado About Nothing”, Robert Elkin returns as Benvolio alongside original cast members Stephanie McGregor as Juliet and Luke McConnell as Mercutio.

Press Quotes for Romeo and Juliet:

The Herald - ***** “has a violently youthful relevance for a new generation of 16 year-olds. See it outside or inside, but just see it”

The Scotsman - **** “full of wit and understanding….in Glasgow, of all cities, this is a tale that never seems out of date”

Stv.com – “An excellent take on the Bard’s tale…filled with all the flaming passions of youth”

Audience response:

“Professional, sexy, beautifully delivered by all concerned – Romeo and Juliet is a MUST”

“Another unbelievable performance, loved every minute”

“one of the best performances of the play I have seen…The cast were amazing”

TOUR DATES

The Changing House at the Tron Theatre Wed 25th, Thurs 26th, Fri 27th & Sat 28th September @ 8 p.m. Thurs 26th September @ 1.30 p.m. Fri 27th September @ 10.30 a.m. Box Office – 0141 552 4267 Online Booking – www.tron.co.uk/whatson/

Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock Tues 1st October @ 1 p.m. Tues 1st October @ 7.30 p.m. Box Office – 0141 577 4956 Online booking – www.eastwoodparktheatre.co.uk/boxoffice

Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock Fri 4th October @ 7.30 p.m. Box Office – 01475 723723 Online booking – www.beaconartscentre.co.uk

Summerhall, Edinburgh Tues 8th, Wed 9th & Thurs 10th October – time t.b.c. Box Office details t.b.c.

East Kilbride Arts Centre Fri 11th October @ 8 p.m. Box Office – 01355 261000 Online booking – www.sllcboxoffice.co.uk

Please note – tickets are not yet on sale for our dates at the Beacon Arts Centre and Summerhall but we will let you know as soon as they are.

Bard in the Botanics Fundraising Dinner & Auction welcomes much loved Harry Benson Dolly Parton portrait

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  Excitement is building and preparations are coming to an end for the fabulous Bard in the Botanics Fundraising Dinner and Auction taking place at Oran Mor on Thursday April 18th.

 

Following a difficult season in 2012 due to the consistently bad weather, we’re planning to return to our beloved Botanic Gardens and Kibble Palace in the West End of Glasgow this summer with a full programme of creative performances and events to delight our faithful audiences and hopefully encourage newcomers to explore Shakespeare in laid back surroundings.

 

Hosted by Kaye Adams - herself a keen supporter of Bard in the Botanics - the spectacular evening will include a Champagne reception, sumptuous three course meal, pop up Shakespeare performances, a fantastic auction offering many money can’t buy lots, and a raffle competition offering an impressive haul of valuable prizes. We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of sponsors and those businesses that donated raffle prizes, and as we’re sure you’ll agree, it’s shaping up to be quite an evening!

 

To whet your appetite, we’ve compiled a brief summary some of the lots available to bid upon.

 

1. ‘Dolly Parton, Nashville, 1976’

The black and white Fibre-based, archival print is signed titled and dated by Harry Benson.

Glasgow-born Harry Benson’s photographic career has spanned 60 years, and during this time he has covered a range of subjects unequalled among his peers. From portraits of world leaders including eleven US presidents to film stars and celebrities; Benson has captured the major events and iconic moments of our time ranging from the American Civil Rights Movement and 9/11 to the fighting in Bosnia and the Gulf War. His work has appeared in Life magazine, Vanity Fair, GQ, the New Yorker, Time, Newsweek and People.

 

He has had over 40 one man exhibitions including two in his home country, at the National Galleries of Scotland, and at Kelvingrove; has twice been named photographer of the year by the National Press Photographers Association of America, and received a Lifetime achievement award from the Scottish Press Association. Widely recognised as one the UK’s most eminent and highly respected artists, Benson has published 16 books and has received numerous honours including a CBE,  a Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society in London, and was given the first honorary degree awarded by Glasgow School of Art.

This is an amazing opportunity to own a Harry Benson work.

Paper size 17 x 22 inches. (gallery price in New York $ 5000.00)

 

2.  All Aboard the EOS! Day out for up to 6 people on one of the fastest racing yachts on the Clyde.

Eos is a 40 foot Elan 410 skippered by Rod Stuart. After a short safety briefing from Rod at James Watt dock, the group will enjoy a morning sail to Cove Hotel where a delicious lunch will be served ashore before hopping back on board Eos to return at around 4pm. By arrangement you can sail almost any weekday or a choice of 4 weekend dates

If you are at all faint hearted about taking to the water…this is a great chance to do it with confidence. Rod Stuart has sailed the Atlantic single-handed. With a name like that what would you expect?

 

3. A signed Andy Murray tennis shirt

 

For all sporting aficionados, this t-shirt is quite simply a piece of tennis history, worn and signed by the most successful Scottish, and arguably British tennis player of all time…the World Number Two. Having collaborated in the design with sponsor Fred Perry, Andy Murray debuted this tennis shirt at the 2009 Wimbledon, the season we all started to believe that Murray could win a grand slam title.

 

4.  Pre-theatre drinks party for 10 in the Kibble Palace and tickets to a Bard in the Botanics performance

 

In the words of the Bard “this garden has a world of pleasures in it” and in the Botanics here in the West end of Glasgow, the stunning Kibble Palace - recently refurbished to its former glory - is certainly one of the most captivating. This is a chance to entertain and treat friends to a private party among spectacular surroundings before enjoying the pleasures of a Shakespeare performance indoors in the Kibble (or outdoors if you are confident that we cannot have a repeat of last summer!)

 

5. Limited edition bottle of 20 year old single malt Scotch whisky

A real collector’s item, this whisky from the Allt-a-Bhainne Distillery was made especially for the Gurkhas. Distilled from one cask and in the traditional style with “no chill filtration”, the malt is offered “in its full and redolent glory” at a strength of 50% alc vol. Only 298 bottles of this whisky exist and this is a rare opportunity to obtain one.

 

6. Bottle of 12 year old Laphroaig with 6 whisky glasses donated by Prince Charles.

Need we say more?!

 

We’re thoroughly looking forward to enjoying a fabulous meal and spending the evening in the company of Kaye Adams, the cast of performance actors, and valued supporters of the Bard in the Botanics. There are still a few tickets available, so if you would like to join us on the evening, please email admin@bardinthebotanics.org or call +44 (141) 334 9016 - you’d be more than welcome!

 

 

KEYWORDS/TAGS (Separated by Commas)

 

Bard in the Botanics, charity event, Scottish Arts, Kaye Adams, Oran Mor Glasgow, event, Glasgow dinner event, Shakespeare, performance art, theatre, auction, Dolly Parton, Harry Benson, Andy Murray

Sell-out "Romeo and Juliet" gets extra performances!

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Our scheduled performances of Romeo and Juliet have completely sold out so we have added 6 extra performances - Saturday 21st July and Tuesday 24th July - Saturday 28th July inclusive. Don't miss out on your chance to see this 5-star show that critics have called "a tale that never seems out of date" and that audiences have described as "absolutely brilliant" and "professional, sexy, beautifully delivered by all concerned - Romeo and Juliet is a MUST......many thanks for an outstanding performance"

These additional performances will take place inside the Kibble Palace Glasshouse and shouldn't be affected by weather conditions so book now on 0141 429 0022 or online at www.bardinthebotanics.co.uk