Castle to host Shakespeare double

GB Theatre Company returns to the castle’s Collector Earl’s Garden on August 28 and 29, for Much Ado About Nothing and Twelfth Night.

Barrie Palmer is the artistic director of GB Theatre Company as well as a performer, and has toured and performed in a wide selection of Shakespearian plays.

This year, he will take on the role of Leonato in Much Ado about Nothing and will play Sir Toby in Twelfth Night.

Barrie said: “We’re delighted to be welcomed back to Arundel Castle for another year. The cast and I always look forward to performing at such an iconic location on the suitably named Oberon’s Palace stage, a subtle nod towards Oberon from Shakespeare’s classic A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Barrie toured in Henry V, As You Like it and A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the British Shakespeare Company. Last year saw him perform for his own company playing Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Gobbo, Prince of Aragon and the Duke in The Merchant of Venice.

Widely considered among Shakespeare’s best comedies, Much Ado about Nothing and the equally-amusing Twelfth Night will be showcased in the open air by a troupe of talented actors.

Taking centre stage as Viola in Twelfth Night on Saturday, August 29, and as Ursula and Conrade in Much Ado about Nothing on Friday, August 28, will be Jennifer Higham.

Jennifer has a number of theatre, film and television credits to her name and has also been heard in radio performances of Doctor Who.

Jennifer’s theatre credits include Swallows and Amazons (Bristol Old Vic), The Pillowman (National Theatre), Clever Dick (Hampstead Theatre), Evening Primrose (Sadlers Wells), The Internationalist, Woman In Love (Gate Theatre), The Man Who Pays the Piper, The Stepmother, Winter, Three Farces, Alison’s House, The Women Hater and The Linden Tree (Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond), Lovely and Misfit (Trafalgar Studios), Rope (The Watermill), Romeo and Juliet (Rose Theatre Kingston), As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night (AFTLS).

Leading man for Much Ado about Nothing will be Vincenzo Pellegrino. Vincenzo will perform as Benedick, the wilful lord recently returned from fighting in the wars, who vows that he will never marry. He regularly appears on TV in familiar roles in Holby City and Doctors.

Much Ado About Nothing will be performed on August 28, and Twelfth Night on August 29. The castle grounds will open at 5.30pm each day, with the Collector Earl’s Garden opening at 6.30pm. Performances will begin at 7.30pm and run for two hours, with a 30-minute interval.

Visitors are welcome to bring along a picnic to complete the perfect theatrical evening. Castle manager Bryan McDonald said: “With tickets selling fast, I’d like to encourage anyone thinking of coming to these shows to book as soon as possible.

“It is the perfect summer evening outing for friends, family and couples with a brilliantly talented cast of esteemed actors performing on the aptly named ‘Oberon’s Palace’ in our stunning gardens.”

Tickets for the performances are priced from £16 for children and £26 for adults.

To book online, log on to the website www.gbtheatrecompany.com/arundelcastle.html

Further information on Arundel Castle and its 2015 events can be found at www.arundelcastle.org, and details of the festival at www.arundelfestival.co.uk

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