Newsflash:

Due to the success of Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare in the Park, an additional performance has been scheduled for Friday 1st April at the Hawkes Bay Opera House Plaza. Buy tickets at eventfinda! Here

Hawkes Bay is set to commemorate 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare in a truly unique way across two special venues. The Hawkes Bay Shakespeare Festival hosted by the Will Power Trust kicks off with the annual Shakespeare in the Park day at Church Road winery on Saturday March 19, 2016 followed two weeks later with a performance at the Hawkes Bay Opera House Plaza on Sat April 2, 2016.

“We are delighted to announce that local trio ‘Confetti’ will be accompanying the stage production and the girls have been busy transposing and arranging since November, working alongside choreographer Champa Maciel”. Musician and cast member Michael Rowlands has also contributed two musical compositions for the play. Costumier Angela Elliott has been tasked with costuming the cast of sixteen. “It is a pleasure to work with these fine industry professionals and we are very excited about this and future collaborations”.

Actors Champa Maciel and Daniel Betty will be taking to the stage in the roles of Beatrice and Benedick alongside Kelie Jensen and Michael Rowlands in the roles of Hero and Claudio. Gerard Cook, in his third consecutive performance at the festival, will be playing the role of Leonato. Other cast members include Tim Walton, Rob Mackintosh, Isaac James, Jane Sutherland, Amanda Jackson, Ian Gosling, Will Couper, Ashleigh Burt and Jack Warren.

Shakespeare in the Park is all about the activities of the Elizabethan Village set up for just one day at Church Road winery. Archery, knife throwing, apple bobbing, maypole dancing, food stalls, artisan crafts people, gourmet bbq . . . . and then at 4.30 settling down in your low back chairs, cushions and picnic rugs to watch the performance. There are family passes, combo deals with food and drink, all available at here you can also buy tickets in person at isite Hastings or Havelock North.

Shakespeare at the Plaza is a more intimate affair at the lovely Hawkes Bay Opera House Plaza. You can buy seats – theatre style, or purchase a whole table for Whanau and friends – comes with a gourmet platter! There is a cash bar available.
Go here to purchase tickets or buy them in person at the Hastings or Havelock North isite.

Some photographs from rehearsal: