Celebrate Britain’s greatest Bard at Powderham Castle

To honour the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare, The Festival Players Theatre Company is bringing one of the Bard’s most famous plays, Hamlet, to Powderham Castle on Wednesday 17 August.

Thought to have been first performed in 1600, Hamlet is considered the greatest tragedy in the English language. The gripping production will be performed in the atmospheric courtyard of Powderham Castle, by The Festival Players Theatre Company, a professional theatre company from Gloucestershire who have been touring Shakespeare’s plays for 30 years. For this production, musical accompaniment has been specially written for Hamlet by folk star Johnny Coppin (front man of the cult Seventies folk-rock group Decameron).

Ingrid Oram, Visitor Attraction Manager at Powderham Castle, said: "We are looking forward to honouring the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare by welcoming The Festival Players Theatre Company to Powderham again this summer. The Festival Players productions are always full of excitement and energy and with the added magic of the play being performed in the courtyard at Powderham, it really is a performance not to be missed."

The all-male outdoor production is sure to excite and intrigue the audience as they follow Hamlet on a harrowing journey, with twists and turns, as he attempts to regain his entitlement to be king after his uncle stole the crown upon the death of his father. Hamlet faces great challenges as he decides whether or not he can trust the ghost of his father, who claims he was murdered by his own brother. But, who will suffer along the way, as Hamlet struggles with his own sanity.

The performance at Powderham will be a summer highlight and the castle is inviting everyone to bring along a picnic and chairs to enjoy the evening. The play will begin at 7pm, with the grounds open from 6pm. Before the performance and during the interval, the Courtenay Café will be serving a delicious arrangement of locally sourced light snacks, as well as hot and cold drinks. 

Tickets cost £14 in advance (concessions £12) and £16 when purchased on the night (concessions £14). Tickets can be ordered by calling 01626 890243.

For further information, please visit www.powderham.co.uk/events