Arundel Castle sits at heart of packed festival programme
THE idyllic medieval setting of Arundel Castle is at the heart of this year's Arundel Festival as it hosts a line up of magical midsummer events. Songs from the shows, Puccini opera, and open-air performances of the Bard are all set to enthral the audiences against the magnificent backdrop of the 11th century castle.
Organisers have once again turned up trumps with a programme that perfectly complements the mood of the times. Mindful of the economic climate, they have decided to create a more intimate atmosphere through highly professional but smaller-scale productions of Shakespeare, music and opera.
Monday August 23
A gala evening of classic music and songs from the greatest Hollywood and Broadway shows. The Castle is hosting the Candlelight Orchestra, conducted by Boris Peck, with soloists Jayne Strand and Jonathan Prentice.
They will perform highlights from Carousel (featuring the "Carousel Waltz", and that great anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone"); Oklahoma, The King and I, State Fair and South Pacific. The audience is sure to leave humming timeless classics from the world of musicals.
Tuesday August 24
Candlelight Opera present Puccini's Tosca – a passionate tale of love, lust and murder. The cast includes Argentinian-born tenor Roberto Garcia Lopez who has the looks and stage presence reminiscent of a young Pavarotti - and a stupendous voice to match. The young singer is creating a stir among UK opera lovers and the magnificent Barons' Hall will be the setting for his first Sussex appearance as he sings the role of Cavaradossi. The fully-staged production of this hugely popular opera promises to be one of the highlights of this year's Arundel Festival.
Thursday August 26
The stunning Collector Earl's Garden will be transformed into the Court of Duke Frederick and the Forest of Arden for Shakespeare's pastoral comedy As You Like It. Performed in exquisite Elizabethan costume by the acclaimed GB Theatre company, the play features one of the Bard's most famous speeches – "All the world's a stage".
In the cast are three well-known faces from the small screen - Stacey Roca from The Office and Waking the Dead; former Hollyoaks' star Matt Milburn, and Gabriel Thomson from BBC One's My Family.
GB Theatre Company was set up to continue the tradition of travelling theatre troupes familiar in Shakespeare's time and presenting accessible, quality productions in beautiful venues... Arundel Castle certainly fits the bill.
Friday August 27
Love and marriage, jealousy and revenge, social class and wealth are all features of Shakespeare's comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor, again performed by the popular GB Theatre Company in the Collector Earl's Garden. The cast includes seasoned professionals Jim Bywater, David Davies, Alexander Delamere, Lennox Greaves, Lucia McAnespie, Laura Murray and Andrew Mathys as well as Stacey Roca, Matt Milburn and Gabriel Thomson.
Centred on the prejudices of middle-class England, the play has a prominent Elizabethan theme.
The lower class is represented by characters such as Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol (Falstaff's followers), and the upper class by Sir John Falstaff and Master Fenton. Shakespeare uses both Latin and misused English to represent the attitudes and differences of the people of this era. Much of the comedic effect of the play is derived from misunderstandings between characters.
Saturday August 28
Another opportunity to see a performance of As You Like It.
Arundel Castle will play host to "a magical festival of love, laughter and amorous adventure" in their medieval venue.
For tickets and booking information, ring the Arundel Castle Ticket Office on 01903 882173 or visit www.arundelcastle.org
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Horsham
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -7 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
