An open-air theatre group that lost its pub home said it was excited to debut at the 11th Century former residence of Catherine of Aragon - the first wife of Henry VIII. The group, formerly named Shakespeare at The George, had its annual residency contract at the pub, in Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire,terminated by Greene Kinglast year, after 65 years. On 24 June, it will start a run of performances of Twelfth Night at its new home of Buckden Towers, a few miles down the A1 in Buckden. Reuben Milne, chair of the newly named Shakespeare at the Towers, said he was excited to hear what both new and loyal audiences thought of the historic space. The George Hotel had been an old Jacobean coaching inn where Shakespeare's plays would have been performed, and it had been an "astonishingly authentic venue" to put on the plays. Mr Milne, 54, said: "Every single thing has had to change - from 65 years of learning how one venue works and how the space works and what we need. It's a complete reset. "[But] what's lovely about this place is it still has that historical authenticity. "It formerly belonged to the bishops of Lincoln, and at one point Catherine of Aragon was kept here... It had lots of visits from kings and royalty." He continued: "It's well preserved and it really does feel like not much has changed... You could almost imagine you're here in mediaeval times, perhaps hearing of this young upcoming playwright called William something-or-other." The towers is about four miles (6.5km) away from the George, but Mr Milne anticipated the move would bring in new audiences as well as long-term fans. He added: "We are hoping to bring them with us. I'm really interested in seeing what they think, what changes they've seen, how they would compare the two experiences. "I think I'm possibly even more excited by people who've never come across us before." The show will run at Buckden Towers from 24 June to 5 July this summer. There will be a captioned performance, sponsored by The Evelyn Glennie Foundation and a touch tour of the set and costumes for blind and partially sighted people before the performance on 30 June. Follow Cambridgeshire news onBBC Sounds,Facebook,InstagramandX.
Outdoor Shakespeare troupe finds new home
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"Shakespeare Troupe Moves to Historic Buckden Towers for New Performances"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
An open-air theatre group, previously known as Shakespeare at The George, has announced an exciting new chapter as it prepares to debut at Buckden Towers, a historic site with deep connections to English royalty. After 65 years of hosting performances at The George Hotel in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, the troupe faced the termination of their annual residency contract by Greene King last year. The venue had been cherished for its authenticity, being an old Jacobean coaching inn where Shakespeare's plays were likely performed. The chair of the newly named Shakespeare at the Towers, Reuben Milne, expressed enthusiasm about the transition, emphasizing the historical significance of Buckden Towers, which was once a residence of Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII. Milne noted that the move represents a complete reset for the group, requiring them to adapt to an entirely new space and audience dynamics.
The first performance of Twelfth Night at Buckden Towers is scheduled to begin on 24 June and will run until 5 July. Milne is optimistic that the new venue will attract both loyal patrons and new audiences, enhancing the theatre experience with its preserved medieval atmosphere. He mentioned the importance of audience feedback, particularly from those who have never attended their performances before. The troupe is also committed to accessibility, with plans for a captioned performance and a touch tour of the set and costumes for visually impaired attendees on 30 June, sponsored by The Evelyn Glennie Foundation. This initiative reflects the group's dedication to inclusivity while continuing the rich tradition of outdoor Shakespearean theatre in a setting steeped in history.
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