Theatrework's Outdoor Productions.

Theatreworks tour to a large number of historic houses, castles, gardens and grounds throughout the summer months with self contained pieces of period drama which involve live music, dance,puppetry and which are tailored to suit the individual needs and atmosphere of each site. Scaling down its large number one touring productions for open-air performance is a challenge it really enjoys.

For The National Trust, such venues include:

Cliveden

Nymans

Smallhythe Place

Tyntesfield

Corfe Castle

Stow Landscape Gardens

Trelissick Gardens

Claremont Landscape Gardens

Batemans

Dyram Park

Ickworth House.

Other open-air venues include:

Hampton Pool

Tuckwell Amphitheatre

Kingston Maurward Gardens

Trentham Gardens

Arley Hall

Holkham Hall

Layer Marney Tower

Herstmonceux Castle

Canon Hall Museum

Lytham Hall

Broxbourne Civic Gardens

Highcliffe Castle

Bowhill House

Drumlanrig Castle

Athelhampton House

Sterts theatre

The Hawker Centre

Hylands House

Powderham Castle

MIMA Gardens

Hergest Croft

Boughton House

Wilton House

Ford Green Hall

Theatre In The Wood

Burton Constable Hall

Sherborne Castle

Torrington 1646

Kiplin Hall

Dalkeith Country Park

Harewood House

Lamport Hall

The Three Counties Showground

Bolton Abbey

The Lost Gardens of Heligan

RHS Rosemoor

Tess of the D'Urbervilles
By Thomas Hardy. Outdoor and Indoor (2008 - 2010)

Opens its fourth tour in September 2010. After three successful small to mid scale tours in 2008 and 2009 it is being redesigned for mid to large scale touring. The company will be casting a well known name in the role of Tess and using its successful mix of drama, period music, dance and Dorset folk songs to tell the tale of fair maiden Tess who falls victim to male lust and social hypocrisy.

Thomas Hardy\'s best known and most passionate Dorset story is brought faithfully to life in a fresh adaptation which is "As true to the book as you can possibly get" (Country and Border Magazine). With a captivating plot, and a good measure of \'Wessex comedy to offset the darker moments it relives the struggles of country girl Tess who, having fallen victim to the desires of bounder Alec D\'Urberville, fights to keep her family from starvation, forget the name D\'Urberville, and gain forgiveness from Angel Clare - the man she truly loves. Recreated with fine attention to period detail from the glorious opening springtide fertility dance to its dramatic climax amongst the brooding ruins of Stonehenge.

"Thomas Hardy\'s Victorian bodice ripper seems even more passionate when presented by Theatreworks - it is one of the few plays I would willingly see again" Manchester Evening News.

"The company played to a full house, which showed its appreciation with loud applause and rousing cheers... and full credit should go to Ali Gorton for her adaptation, design and direction which captured the essence of the story bringing it wonderfully to life on stage." Pocklington Times.

"Kathryn Ritchie played a superb Tess - innocent, alluring, passionate and disturbed. Theatreworks\' authentic use of song and dance celebrated the story as a masterpiece of historical fiction." Northern Echo

There is no information about Cast and the Artistic Team for this production.

Please check back soon.

Babe The Sheep Pig
By Dick King-Smith. Adapted by David Wood. Outdoor and Indoor (Autumn/Winter 2009)

Adapted for the stage by David Wood and directed for open-air performance by Ali, the piece opened at the 1000 seater Rose Theatre Kingston before embarking on a national tour of theatres and arts centres. It moved into the open air in July when it played to a most enthusiastic audience at Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire.

Tuckwell Amphitheatre 2009 \"Babe\'s adventures on stage kept even the youngest members of the audience entertained, with a heartwarming slice of life on the farm. A farmyard treat! Nine out of ten!\"

Crackerjack.co.uk.

There is no information about Cast and the Artistic Team for this production.

The Importance of Being Earnest
By Oscar Wilde. June to September, 2010.

Oscar Wilde\'s frothy, witty Edwardian comedy of manners and mistaken identity will be staged in the beautiful grounds of country estates, heritage sites and at many National Trust properties throughout the summer of 2010, opening at Highcliffe Castle.
Wilde\'s best loved piece is produced by Theatreworks and designed and directed by Ali Gorton who first staged this well loved piece back in 2001 and has since gone on to produce classic\'s such as Little Women, Far from the Madding Crowd, Tess of the D\'Urbervilles, The Railway Children and The Turn of the Screw at venues ranging from Windsor Theatre Royal to Drumlanrig Castle.

"A joy to watch" Evening Standard.

"A production of exquisite sensitivity" The Telegraph.

"One of the few plays I would willingly see again" Manchester Evening News.

To avoid family duties, Algernon Moncrieff, a bachelor-about-town, has invented \'Bunbury\' - a sick relative who frequently calls him away! His friend Jack Worthing has invented a wicked brother called \'Earnest\' to disguise his own misdemeanours. When Algernon poses as Earnest confusion takes hold - until the discovery of an old handbag finally leads Jack and Algernon to the truth behind the layers of deceit. Bring your strawberries, cream and a bottle of fizz, sit back and enjoy the sparkling wit of Wilde, gorgeous costumes, fine performances and all in a delightful setting.

There is no information about Cast and the Artistic Team for this production.

There are no photographs for this production.

Please check back soon.

Little Women
By Louisa M. Alcott. Outdoor and Indoor (2005 - 2008)

Again the piece was adapted and directed by Ali for the number one circuit and premiered at Hull New Theatre before embarking on a national tour. In the open air it used a cast of seven and most of the beautifully detailed large scale touring set, including a piano!

Kingston Maurward Gardens, 2007 \" A stunning production of Little Women, a lively piece of theatre that maintains a high standard of acting by a cast who make the most of an excellent script\"
Dorset Echo

There is no information about Cast and the Artistic Team for this production.

George and the Dragon
Outdoor and Indoor, Spring/Summer 2010

Opens at Blackpool Grand Theatre in April and is touring during the Easter holidays, Spring half term, right through to the summer break - playing a number of fantastic open-air/heritage sites. Theatreworks scored a massive hit with young people this year with their fantastic production of Babe which used ten life size puppets, music and a cast of six.

"Impressively adapted for the stage... The enchanting tale and clever acting captured the youngsters imagination and had them hooked" Lancashire Evening Post.

"A great antidote to the half term blues. A clever adaptation brought very believable puppets to life on stage in a sure fire winner with the kids." Nottingham Post.

A must for young people and their families the world famous story of soldier \'George\', who became the most widely venerated Saint - from Israel to Canada, is retold using music, song, verse, slapstick comedy and masses of audience participation. A smoke breathing puppet dragon may disturb some sensitive under fives, but those over five will love him! Young people are encouraged to come dressed as knights, princesses or even dragons and help George on his quest as he travels to Arabia to rescue the Princess from the Dragon. Who and what does George encounter along the way? Does he save the Princess or does the Princess save him? This adaptation of his story takes from many different versions, is educational, fun, gentler in its retelling and has a positive outcome.

The piece comes complete with a great shield making workshop and a Knights and Princesses trail for those venues with an outdoor space.

The performance is 1 hour and 10 minutes in duration.

The optional shield making workshop is half an hour in duration - Maximum 20 children per sitting.

The optional trail is half an hour in duration.

There is no information about Cast and the Artistic Team for this production.

There are no photographs for this production.

Please check back soon.

Far from the Madding Crowd
By Thomas Hardy, Outdoor & Indoor (2003 - 2007)

Originally adapted and directed by Ali for the number one touring circuit back in 2003 and playing venues such as Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and Cambridge Arts. It used live music, traditional Dorset folk songs and a highly detailed, large scale, composite rural set.

Batemans, 2007 "A production of exquisite sensitivity." The Telegraph.

There is no information about Cast and the Artistic Team for this production.

Jane Eyre
By Charlotte Bronte. Outdoor and Indoor, June to September 2010.

Jane Eyre is playing a wide range of small to mid scale indoor venues, Colleges, atmospheric ball/drawing rooms and open air spaces at heritage sites - from Broxbourne Civic Hall to Corfe Castle! It combines drama and music, pays close attention to period detail and suits a wide variety of spaces.
Published in 1847 under the pen name 'Currer Bell' , it is said to be partly autobiographical. It tells the well known story of plain but clever orphan Jane who is sent from her abusive aunts home, (afterreacting passionately to being locked in a room where her uncle has died), to Lowood - a school for the poor. Life at the school is hard, the girls are frequently cold, have little to eat but Jane finds a true and gentle friend in Helen - until 'consumption' strikes her down and the girl dies in Jane's arms. Jane grows into a fine young woman and eventually leaves the school to begin a new life as a Governess at Thornfield Manor where she falls in love with her employer - brooding, troubled and fascinating Mr Rochester. But this is only the beginning for all is not as it first appears at Thornfield, who does she hear crying and the dead of night, who is the owner of the of the unworldly laugh that haunts the halls and who started the fire from which Jane saves Mr Rochester? Can Jane rise from the ashes and extinguish the flames offate that have kept her from true happiness? With courage, determination and love in her heart we hope so.
Placed in the 'Gothic Horror/Social Criticism' genre Jane journey's through a plot which keeps you spell bound to the end.

There is no information about Cast and the Artistic Team for this production.

There are no photographs for this production.

Please check back soon.