WILL'S BIRTHDAY BASH 2023
Since 2011 we've been staging a special series of one-off events to celebrate Shakespeare's Birthday, 23 April 1564.
"The April’s in her eyes: it is love’s spring
And these the showers to bring it on."
April is the year's turning point, from Spring to Summer; short days to long; green shoots to colourful bouquets. Shakespeare had an affinity with this moment in the year so it's the perfect moment to explore something new; experience the beauty and vibrancy of his words in a whole new way.
Our Spring Season is once again generously sponsored by Whittingtons Accountants
Priority Booking 14 March | General Booking 17 March
GSC YOUNG COMPANY PRESENTS...
“What a wonderful piece of theatre and a hugely talented group of young actors” Audience member 2022
Devised by our Young Company, and written by THEO TOKSVIG-STEWART, this new play takes inspiration from the stories and characters of Hamlet, The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2022's main house shows) and will be performed by the company of 13– 18 year-old aspiring theatre makers.
ROSENSTERN & GUILDENCRANTZ are... LOST!
It all begins when an anxious Guildencrantz invites the oblivious Rosenstern to go digging in the woods...
When a thick fog envelopes the two friends they are thrown into a mysterious world of magic and murderous intent. Will the friends escape the ruling tyrannical monarchy and find their way back home? Join the GSC Young Company to find out!
The annual production is a major event for the youth theatre, which has seen many members go on to train for a career in the theatre industry.
Written by Theo Toksvig-Stewart| Directed by Rob Cann | Devised by The Young Company
DATES: 14 & 15 April, 7.30pm
TICKETS: ÂŁ12 (no concessions)
VENUE: Guildford Baptist Church, Millmead
"TO THE READER,"
Presented in collaboration with Dr Anjna Chouhan of Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust
"His mind and hand went together" Heminges & Condell, Preface to the First Folio, 1623
2023 marks the 400th Anniversary of the very first time Shakespeare's play were printed as a 'collected work'; without it we would never have Macbeth, Twelfth Night, The Tempest or 15 others. The First Folio was a gargantuan undertaking at a time when playwrights' works could simply disappear, and the printing of folios was considered only for special, philosophical works. Only 750 copies of the Folio were printed, of which about 220 are known to survive. The most recent one sold for ÂŁ2m in July 2022.
The evening, devised and written by Dr Chouhan and GSC's Co-Founder Matt Pinches, will explore the origins of the First Folio, who created it and why. We'll also delve into the differences between Quarto and Folio versions of specific plays, their changes in titles, and what the legacy of the Folio itself has been. Presented by Matt, the evening will also feature live readings from actors.
Join us for a special celebration of this landmark anniversary.
DATE: 19 April, 7.30pm
TICKETS: ÂŁ16 (no concessions)
VENUE: St Mary's Church, Quarry St, Guildford
SHAKESPEARE'S BIRTHDAY TREASURE HUNT...
"It was a wonderful afternoon. Enjoy this event every time. You constantly amaze us with your ideas."
"One of the performances got our group talking about local wildlife, so now I've found out about the Swift Project!"
"Enjoyed my first Sonnet Walk last Sunday. Brilliant concept & thoroughly entertaining."
This year we're celebrating our 10th Sonnet Walk! Since 2011 we've been taking audiences on a magical mystery tour, where they've encountered Shakespeare's words and his characters in a cornucopia of different places: streets, gardens, river paths, pubs, the rooftops of Guildford, the alleyways of Godalming and even the historic West Horsley Place.
Over the weekend of Shakespeare's Birthday, the hour-long performances will see groups of walkers following an especially designed self-guided route. Along the way you’ll encounter actors in everyday settings poised to share a sonnet or speech... but where are they, and who's an actor and who's not? The route itself, as ever, will be revealed on the day...
Join us to experience the beauty, fun and soulfulness of Shakespeare's timeless words in a brand-new way.
Devised and directed by Matt Pinches, the Sonnet Walk Weekend has become a highlight of the local Spring event calendar.
DATES: 22 & 23 April
TIMES: walks start at Noon, then every 15 mins | Each walk last approx. 60 mins
TICKETS: ÂŁ20.00 (no concessions)
VENUE: Walks start from GSC's Rehearsal Rooms, the GreenArk in Stoke Park. Click here for a map
Want to know what speeches and sonnets you heard over the weekend? Click here!
Discover more: What is a Sonnet Walk? | "Scorn not the sonnet" - read a sonnet this birthday weekend |Â Sonnet Walk 2018 (That's Surrey video) | Check out how we marked the Bard's Big Day in 2020
SEASON SUPERSTARS
Our Spring Season is generously supported once again by
