|
Europe's finest open air theatre - on your doorstep!
Stamford Shakespeare Season
The Stamford Shakespeare Company presents an annual season of plays in June, July and August at Rutland Open Air Theatre in the grounds of historic Tolethorpe Hall, Little Casterton, just off the A1, two miles north of Stamford.
**ONLINE BOOKING NOW AVAILABLE**
see HOW TO BOOK page with web addresses for each play
Historic Tolethorpe Hall, the gardens and Rutland Open Air Theatre
with a
600-seat, permanently covered, raked auditorium.
No performance is ever cancelled because of the rain.
The unique permanent high tensile canopy erected in 1993 is made from fabric
of the same family of materials as London's Millennium Dome.
It is the only theatre structure of its kind in Europe.
Tolethorpe Hall has origins dating back to the early late 11th century.
It has 17th century links with the birth of America.
See Robert Browne.
A production of "Romeo and Juliet"
|
Distinguished visitors to the Stamford Shakespeare Company include H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester, Douglas Fairbanks jnr., Geoffrey Kendal, Sir Alan Ayckbourn, Colin Dexter, Jane Lapotaire, Sam Wanamaker, Jimmy Ellis, Richard Todd, Margaret Wolfit, David Quarmby (chairman, British Tourist Authority) and Kate Adie. |
Magical setting for a production of
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" |
A stage set in enchanting glade, a company of fine actors, stunning sets and gorgeous costumes, the magic of Tolethorpe begins the moment you take your seat in one of Europe's finest open air theatres on a warm summer evening.
Comfortably seated and protected from occasional summer showers, beneath permanent all-weather canopy it's the perfect setting to enjoy the works of the world's greatest playwright. Enjoy all the comfort of an indoor theatre with the charm of an open air setting on an English summer evening.
But an evening at the UK's finest open air theatre is not only an opportunity to enjoy an entertaining Shakespeare performance by an amateur company with a professional reputation it is what everyone calls the complete Tolethorpe Experience.
There is nothing more enjoyable for a theatre visit on a summer evening than a picnic on the lawn... or a pre-performance meal in one of the two elegant restaurant rooms in the historic hall... a quiet drink in the sun-filled, spacious bar... or a stroll through the delightful garden where the others have walked for the past 1000 years.
Top
Just to tempt you further read on about plays for 2008.......
| 2008 Plays: |
"Wind
In The Willows" (June and July); "Romeo
and Juliet" (June and August); "Richard
III" (July and August)
|
Performance Times:
|
Evening performance - 8pm start
Matinée performance -
1.30pm start
|
| Seat Prices: |
£11 (Monday/Tuesday), £12 (Wednesday/Thursday), £14 (Friday), £16 (Saturday), £9 (Preview Nights -
4&6 June, 12&13 June, 3&4 July).
Matinée - Adult £9, Child
£5
(see How To Book for more info)
|
| Box Office: |
TEL: 01780 756133
or 01780 763203 (open 9.30am to 7.30pm Mon - Sat). Now open for 2008 bookings.
|
| Admin Office: |
01780 754381 and 01780 480216 (10am to 4pm) for general inquiries and brochures.
|
| Facilities: |
On-site, free car and coach park. Picnic area in garden. Pre-performance restaurant in elegant dining rooms of Tolethorpe Hall, and theatre bar. East wing shop and snack bar.
|
| Disabled Access: |
to all areas. Disabled toilets in hall and adjacent theatre. Helpful if anyone requiring wheelchair assistance on arrival could give the office at least five days notice. Theatre easily accessible special wheelchair spaces on Row 'O' in theatre - please advise when booking.
|
| Parking: |
Free on-site Car and Coach Park: there is an on-site car and coach park just one minute walk from the theatre, hall, picnic area and all facilities. Hard standing for coaches and disabled parking.
|
| Hard of Hearing: |
The theatre is fitted with a T-loop which works successfully for all seating areas. |
COLOUR BROCHURE
An illustrated colour brochure with photographs of the facilities, full details of plays, performance dates, and how to book for the theatre and pre-performace restaurant is available in the UK from most libraries and Tourist Information centres in the Midlands and East Anglian counties.
You can phone a brochure request to the admin office between 10am and 4pm daily, Tel: 01780 754381 or the Box Office on 01780 756133/763203. You can also order a brochure by e-mail to derek@stamfordshakespeare.fsnet.co.uk or by Fax to
01780 481954. Please give name, address, postcode and state number of brochure copies required. |
Overseas and UK visitors to this web site are invited to sign up below to go on our brochure mailing. The brochure is mailed out at the beginning of January and throughout the year on request.
Top
Add your name and address to our mailing list to receive
annual colour brochure for next season
Actor's view of the Rutland theatre auditorium
ANNUAL STAMFORD SHAKESPEARE
SEASON
Every summer more than 30,000 people from throughout the UK and from overseas attend the amateur Stamford Shakespeare Company's acclaimed summer Festival of plays in June, July and August at Rutland Open Air Theatre, Tolethorpe Hall. The 2008 festival will be the 32nd annual season.
Performances take place on an open air stage set in idyllic glade facing a 600-seat, raked, and permanently covered auditorium. The Stage newspaper named it one of England's premier alfresco theatre venues. In addition to the recognised high standard of performances the theatre is known for the quality of all its facilities, making it one of the finest open air theatres in Europe.
How to find us
Located in delightful, classic English parkland in Rutland, Tolethorpe Hall and the theatre are about one hour's drive from all the nearest towns of Lincoln, Nottingham, Leicester, Northampton, Bedford and Cambridge. Under two hours from the M25 in the south, the M62 in the north and from Birmingham via the M6, A14 and A1. Tolethorpe Hall is 92 miles from London via A1 just two miles north of Stamford and five minutes off the A1. Follow RAC "Shakespeare Tolethorpe" signs and signposts to Little Casterton and Tolethorpe. The open air theatre is marked adjacent to Little Casterton village on Ordinance Survey maps.
Train services to Stamford from King's Cross, London, via Peterborough and from the midlands via Central Line (Liverpool, Birmingham, Leicester, Stamford, Peterborough, Cambridge, Stansted). Taxi from Stamford station to theatre (2.5 miles).
For overseas visitors the nearest airports are Stansted, Luton, Birmingham and Nottingham East Midlands, and all are approximately 1.5 hours to 2 hours drive-time from Stamford, Lincs., and Tolethorpe.
 Click for a larger, more detailed map of how to find Rutland Open Air Theatre, Tolethorpe Hall, Little Casterton, from north, south, east or west.
(Map will load in a new browser window)
Both maps ©Automobile Association,
© Crown Copyright Lic. No. 399221.
Top
|
Click for a larger, more detailed map of how to find Rutland Open Air Theatre, Tolethorpe Hall, Little Casterton