The Liverpool Shakespeare Festival

The Liverpool Shakespeare Festival is an annual celebration of the works of William Shakespeare. Centered around Liverpool Cathedral, each summer sees different plays performed with the cathedral and the adjacent St James Cemetery, some by the festival's organisers (the "Lodestar Theatre Company") and others by visiting companies.

Festival history

2007

The festival's first production, "Macbeth", played from 16th August to 8th September 2007. The first three acts were staged within the majestic Cathedral, while the final two were enacted in the bewitching cemetery. The production was met with extremely positive critical response. The cast and direction were lauded by most critics, [ [http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-life-features/liverpool-arts/2007/08/17/theatre-macbeth-liverpool-cathedral-64375-19649162/ Theatre Review: Macbeth, Liverpool Cathedral] "Liverpool Daily Post.co.uk" (2007)] [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/content/articles/2007/08/22/theatre_macbeth_review_feature.shtml Macbeth @ Anglican Cathedral] "BBC Law" (2007)] although the production received some criticism as a result of the Cathedral's disadvantageous acoustics). [ [http://www.liverpoolconfidential.com/index.asp?Sessionx=IpqiNwEnNw7lIaqiNwF6IHqi&realname=Macbeth Macbeth] "LiverpoolConfidential.com" (2007)]

2008

To coincide with Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture, 2008's festival will consist of a number of different activities. At their first ever visit to Liverpool, "Shakespeare's Globe Theatre's" production of "The Winter's Tale" will be performed in Liverpool Cathedral and St James Cemetery for one week only in August. Open air screenings of popular Shakespeare-related films will commence for three nights in the build up to the festival's main event, Lodestar Theatre Company's magical new production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream", which will be performed from 13th August to 7th September [ [http://www.theliverpoolshakespearefestival.co.uk The Liverpool Shakespeare Festival] "Official Site" (2007)] entirely within the historic St James' Cemetery.

References

External links

* [http://www.theliverpoolshakespearefestival.co.uk The Liverpool Shakespeare Festival - Official Site]
* [http://www.LodestarTheatreCompany.co.uk Lodestar Theatre Company - Official Site]
* [http://www.shakespearesglobe.org.uk Shakespeare's Globe - Official Site]
* [http://www.liverpool08.com/events/event_details.asp?dms_id=159191 Liverpool08.com - Event Details]