A Midsummer Night's Dream outdoor performance

About

After a fantastic gala performance last year to celebrate the grand opening of our specially designed outdoor theatre, we are delighted to welcome back internationally acclaimed theatre group, Illyria, to Heywood House. Join us on Sunday 4th September 2022 and enjoy an afternoon performance of the Shakespeare's timeless comic masterpiece, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

Heywood House has a fascinating history over 400 years and is now transformed into dedicated offices and co-working space for the business community. The classic country estate is set within 30 acres of glorious grounds and parklands with stunning views of the Westbury White Horse and beyond. The show takes place in our outdoor theatre, situated behind the stunning walled garden, converted from a pit where previous owner, Baron Ludlow, once upon a time would have had his coach and horses washed after a long journey.

'A Midsummer Night's Dream', explores every colour in the spectrum of love, from arranged marriage to elopement, from infatuation to hatred, from chivalric devotion to raw sex. Add to this bawdy mix a heady brew of confusion, magic, and mischief, and you have the most perfectly frothy comedy for a moonlit summer evening set within the picturesque grounds of Heywood House.

Now in its 30th year, Illyria has delighted audiences the length and breadth of the UK, and in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France and the United States and Canada performing some of the most well-loved productions on offer. The company has won 4 international "Best Performance" awards and attracted numerous '5-star" and 'Critics' Choice" reviews for the lively clarity of its approach to Shakespeare's plays and other performances.

Come enjoy the show, take a stroll around the grounds, enjoy a delicious cream tea, and learn more about the intriguing link between the historic estate and William Shakespeare.