Confident young actors star in Stathern Shakespeare play

A crowd of around 100 watched the play which was partially aimed at encouraging young actors confidence, mostly teenagers, from the surrounding villages.

The production was rewritten by Sally Fagan, who brought the play up to date and set it in Nottingham. The performance also incorporated dancers from Belvoir Dance Academy, which is based in Stathern.

Sally said: “I was extremely proud of the high standard of performance reached by our young actors and dancers. It’s a credit to them that they took on this demanding play, and in many ways added dimensions to it that I had not seen when writing.

“It’s interesting to think that in Shakespeare’s day, women were not allowed on the stage and men played women’s parts. In our production, the role reversal continued in that apart from one young man, there was an all-female cast. We hope that Shakespeare did not turn in his grave at the thought!”

This comedy was part of the Stathern Shakespeare season, celebrating 400 years since his death.

A Shakespeare feast was also held in April, and on Saturday, October 29, St Guthlac’s will be hosting a Shakespeare concert.

The performance raised £650 towards the church’s continually restoration collection fund. Around £4,000 is currently required to repair the stone floor in the south porch.