What’s on in August
Wed 3 Aug, 2022
A nonsense festival, spoken word nights and enough shows to fill your whole month with! Take a look at what we have in store this August at Shakespeare North Playhouse! Check out our What's On Page for more details.
Be.Spoke: Working with lived experience
Friday 5th August 10am-5pm
The Studio
Be.Spoke lead this free workshop that aims to support writers, theatre makers, directors and actors in how to work with material that is drawn directly from someone’s personal experience. Designed for those already working or interested in working in this field, the workshop will look at:
- The ethics of working with people’s stories
- Interview techniques
- How to tell the stories of others
Funded by Arts Council, there are 15 spaces available.
Rubbish Romeo and Juliet
Saturday 6th-Sunday 7th
Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden
The hilarious and celebrated Rubbish Shakespeare Company proudly present the critically-acclaimed comedic adaptation of The Bard’s most beloved play. Described as ‘like Horrible Histories but funnier’ (Primary Times) and with influences from Python to Pixar, ‘Rubbish Romeo and Juliet’ is an anarchic and joyous interactive, family-friendly event-and it’s far from rubbish!
Featuring clowning, slapstick and innovative storytelling, this accessible Shakespeare production is a perfect introduction to the works of William Shakespeare and will have you and your little ones belly laughing in delight!
Itch: Spoken Word Night
9th August 7.30pm (and continuing monthly)
The Cafe Bar
Itch is a spoken word night for anybody looking to dip their toe in.
• Have you always wanted to give it a go?
• Did you used to write/perform a lot and want to get back into it?
• Have you never heard of spoken word and are wondering what it’s all about?
Then come down, listen, share and get the itch. We are primarily looking for poets and spoken word artists but artists of other disciplines are welcome to approach us to discuss how they can get involved.
Contact our Spoken Word Artist in Residence, Charlie Staunton for more information [email protected]
Be.Spoke: Introduction to making theatre
Friday 10th August, 10am-5pm
The Studio
Ever wanted to make a play? A session exploring our practice of devised and collaborative theatre making. Aimed at those who have thought about devising theatre but not sure how to start.
The Yarn
Saturday 13th August, 2pm and 6pm
Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden
Step beyond golden haystacks into a fantastical patchwork of joyous tales, painful rituals and bizarre superstitions. Imaginarium Theatre spins yarns form days of yore – a magical village tale and a fight for survival against the coming of enclosures and the industrial age.
Get the family together for this delightful production that will leave you smiling long after you leave.
A Midsummer Night’s Showcase
Sunday 14th August, 6pm
Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden
Where Are The Girlbands make their way to the Sir Ken Dodd performance garden for A Midsummer Night’s Showcase. A relaxed gig-style evening of music and spoken word that celebrates the very best female artists in the local scene.
The project is a space for discussion, collaboration and networking with regular concerts, panels and other events that challenge the idea of gender issues in the music industry, safe spaces at gigs and the need for celebrating women in music.
Scratch: Spoken Word Night
Tuesday 16th August, 7.30pm
The Studio
This is a call out for artists of any discipline with a focus on spoken word. A fun night of Poetry, Comedy and Music by local and featured artists.
Come and scratch it the last Tuesday of every month starting August 16th 7:30 pm in the studio. See you there!
Contact our Spoken Word Artist in Residence, Charlie Staunton for more information [email protected]
Serious Nonsense Festival
Friday 19th-Sunday 21st of August
Three days of incredible street theatre, live music, comedy and family entertainment.
Featuring renowned children’s authors Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Michael Rosen, Sarah Asuquo and John Dougherty.
Shakespeare North Playhouse and Prescot Town Centre will be packed with nonsense for this massive three-day adventure celebrating Edward Lear’s connection to Knowsley.
Experience Prescot as never before with giant birdcages, a 50 ft sperm whale, an extraordinary ‘Hippochondriac Hippopotamus’, the smallest Hotel in the world and much more. You can even watch a real-life owl and pussycat tell tales of the sea in their own pea green boat!
There will be live music, comedy and a very special programme of readings, performances and talks. This is a weekend not to be missed – for all ages!
The Importance of being Ernest
Saturday 27th-Sunday 28th of August
Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden
Slapstick Picnic invite you to its summer tea party in Shakespeare North Playhouse’s Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden, where marvelous feats of performance and culinary capers await.
Over tea and cucumber sandwiches, prepare to witness the impossible – the entirety of Oscar Wilde’s classic play of manners, affairs and handbags being performed by just two, rather dashing, entertainers.
From the creators of The HandleBards comes a fantastically wild(e) new production, ripping up the recipe book and celebrating silliness.
With Slapstick Picnic, you can have your cake and eat it!
Much Ado About Nothing
Tuesday 30th August- Sunday 4th September
Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden
Grab a drink, and let Unseemly Women transport you on a wild journey of whispers, banter, plots and schemes.
The war is over. Pedro Prince of Aragon visits Leonato, Duke of Messina, with his followers Benedick and Claudio. Claudio falls in love with Leonato’s daughter, Hero, and their marriage is agreed. But Don John has other, malicious plans.
Beatrice and Benedick despise love and they’re not sure they even like each other. But the others plot to make them fall in love… will they succeed?
Following their highly successful All Female ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in 2021, Unseemly Shakespeare bring their fourth annual production here to Shakespeare North Playhouse. This is Shakespeare’s Much Ado, but with an Unseemly twist.
