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Stratford on Avon Shakespeare Festival

By Darren McCubbin - 14th April 2004 - Back to News

When passing through the normally sleepy Gippsland town of Stratford over the next month be prepared to see the locals "donning the doublet and hose" and breaking into Shakespearian prose as they celebrate the 14th Annual Shakespeare on the River Festival

Featuring over 50 International and local performances over a three week period from April 23^rd, the Festival presents theatre, music and comedy inspired by the works of William Shakespeare. This year’s theme is "Hamlet – A celebration of small communities" and recognises the various tiny communities such as Newry, Meerlieu, Munro, Briagolong and Airy that surround Stratford. These "Hamlets" have their own special cultural qualities and a film recognising their unique attributes forms a core of the festival programming.

Other special guests are Expressions Dance theatre presenting "Virtually Richard 3^rd" which has recently returned from an acclaimed tour of Europe, seventies icon and Circus Oz performer Mic Conway in "Get Thee to a Noshery" plus local Eye2Eye director Clifton Kline with a theatrical version of the comedy "Shakespeare in Love". This years community play is Shakespeare’s hilarious "Twelfth Night" presented outdoors in the cosy "Aglow Theatre" while the children of the town will be presenting a family friendly version of "Hamlet".

There are also performances of "Romeo and Juliet" from Melbourne’s Hartwell Players, a modern version of MacBeth called "Big Mac: Scottish Idol" with "Othello" from Williamstown Drama students, the Southern Philharmonia choral group in "Food of Love", vocal workshops with Faye White and much more.

A Festival feature is the Village Fair presented in Stratfords Main street on Sunday May 2^nd. Street stalls, food and demonstrations surround the village green plus free entertainment including the annual ferret race and "Morris Idol" where the usual sedate form of Morris dancing gets an Australian Idol makeover. The fair day starts at 10am and continues over lunch with theatre shows starting at 3pm and the riotous debate at the Avon Hotel that evening.

The Shakespeare on the River Festival begins with the Bards Birthday at the Holy Trinity Church Hall in Stratford celebrating the 440^th Birthday of the English speaking world greatest ever playwrite on Friday April 23^rd and continues until May 8^th. For further details call the festival hotline on 5145 6133 or look at the website on www.stratfordshakespeare.com.au Tickets are on sale from Mollys Lolly Shop in Stratford, Sale Authorised Newsagency or the Esso BHP Billiton Wellington Entertainment centre in Sale.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com