Leura Shakespeare Festival

Damien Ryan, Artistic Director
Email: info@sportforjove.com.au

The festival enjoyed a sell-out debut in 2010, playing for two weekends to over 1500 people at the world-class venue, Everglades Gardens in Leura. In January 2011, Sport for Jove Theatre with its inspirational director Damien Ryan, will return with an expanded season at the Everglades and conclude for the first time at Norman Lindsay Gallery, Faulconbridge.

“Last year was a great success,” says Ryan, the festival’s Artistic Director. “The way audiences responded to this new cultural injection was hugely exciting.” Beyond the length of the season, the festival has also grown in its activities. In 2010, Sport for Jove staged two plays in repertory, Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet. This year they add ‘As You Like It’ to the festival’s repertoire. “Since so many people were unable to get tickets last year we have decided to restage ‘Romeo and Juliet’, along with a brand new production of Shakespeare’s wonderful comedy, ‘As You Like It’ and a reimagined ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ for the Everglades,” says Ryan. “We’ll then move down to the Norman Lindsay Gallery for an all ‘Dream’ final weekend. It will be magical, no question.”

These magnificent plays are all iconic stories of young women who defy the rules to chase their heart’s desires, exploring the ecstasies and torments of love, and all combining some of Shakespeare’s most dazzling action and fight sequences with his most compellingly beautiful language and humour.

“These venues are among the most stunning locations for outdoor theatre anywhere in the world. Our production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is inspired by the beauty of classical art so to be performing at such a famous and well-loved gallery is thrilling for us. It’s the perfect setting to enjoy a picnic, a bottle of wine and watch this hilarious and moving play under the starry mountains sky.”

http://www.sportforjove.com.au