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Lighthouse celebrate Shakespeare’s Birthday

William Shakespeare was reputedly born on 23rd April 1564 and died on 23rd April 1616, and Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts, plans to celebrate the double anniversary with two very different presentations of his work.

First up, Icarus Theatre Production’s version of Hamlet. The classic psychological, paranormal thriller - and one of the most debated texts of the English language – plays at the Lighthouse 4 – 7 May.

Does revenge justify murder? The King of Denmark is dead. Consumed with grief, Prince Hamlet devotes himself to avenging his father’s death with devastating consequences for his family and the Kingdom.

Co-produced with Harrogate theatre, Icarus Theatre takes its second foray into a national tour of a Shakespeare play, and cutting the original text down to around two and a half hours, brings vividly to life some of literature’s most vibrant language and characters.

Then, on 18 and 19 June Lighthouse ventures outside, to the walled garden of Upton Country Park, with a unique theatre performance of As You Like It from the world famous Shakespeare’s Globe .

A small troupe of actors will present a stripped down version of Shakespeare’s enchanting play in this beautiful open air setting, reviving the old Globe principle of outdoor playing. >p> Rosalind, the daughter of a banished duke, falls in love with Orlando at a wrestling match, but her usurping uncle, jealous of her popularity, banishes her from court. Disguised as a boy she seeks out her father and his friends in the Forest of Arden. Here she meets Orlando again, and under the guise of a young man, counsels him in the art of love. As You Like It runs the glorious gamut of pastoral romance: cross-dressing and love-notes; poetry and brilliant conversation; gentle satire, slapstick and passion.

Will there be a love note pinned on your tree?

- by Simon Cole

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