Shakespeare at Norwich Cathedral

My year of Shakespeare continued recently with two evenings at Norwich Cathedral to see the British Shakespeare Company performing the comedies Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The first night was rather soggy as it rained after we began our picnic and pelted down during the interval. But we were well prepared, armed with rainproof clothing and waterproof blankets and bagged the grassy area at the very front of the stage ahead of the seats. The hot soup and homemade nibbles helped a great deal! The second night was a much more pleasant affair, as the sun came out all afternoon and shone throughout our picnic, which we celebrated by opening a bottle of wine (In a cathedral you ask?! They were selling…we were drinking!).

Much Ado was absolutely fabulous. It is one of my favourite plays, that I had never seen performed on stage before, and I was not disappointed it was excellently done and I laughed throughout, despite the unpleasant cold rain and sore knee (I fell off my bicycle on the way there!). A Midsummer Night's Dream was also enjoyable, though the play perhaps not quite as good. The acting was excellent though, and the set simple but elegant. I am still unashamedly enamoured with Shakespeare and outdoor theatre! I heartily recommend a viewing if the Company pass your way!

A rather soggy picnic

The Cathedral by day

Early evening light illuminated the mediaeval architecture

Seating in the cloisters

Celebrating the sun with a bottle of red!

The Cathedral by night

Puck and his fairies

In front of the spire