A whirlwind journey of magic, mayhem and romance will hit the stage in Orange next month when Bell Shakespeare launches its first first national tour in more than a year.
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The theatre company will debut one of Shakespeare's most-loved plays, A Midsummer Night's Dream at Orange Civic Theatre on July 2 and 3.
The classic comedy, directed by Peter Evans, will bring magic and mirth to the city and will then travel to 26 other venues across Australia between July and November.
Assistant director Janine Watson said Orange has been the first stop for the company for a number of years.
"It's a really nice place for the company to open within regional NSW," Miss Watson said.
She said productions at regional theatres are an event and she described Orange as a "bit of an epicurean hub" with its food and wineries that compliment creative events.
"If people don't want to wait for it to hit Sydney it's close enough to Sydney to go for a weekend," she said. "It's such a beautiful little spot."
Miss Watson said A Midsummer Night's Dream was always scheduled to take place this year and it is a wonderful way to bring people back to the theatre.
"No matter who puts it on, it's a celebration of theatre," she said.
Miss Watson performed as Titania and Peter Quince when Bell Shakespeare last performed the play in 2014 but said this is its first national tour.
A Midsummer Night's Dream follows the adventures of four star-crossed lovers Hermia and Lysander, and Helena and Demetrius, a disgruntled father, a duke and duchess, woodland fairies Oberon and Titania, and a mischievous fairy servant Puck.
Mr Evans' approach will lead to a highly physical production with eight actors playing multiple parts including.
It stars Jane Montgomery Griffiths as Bottom and Egeus, and Ella Prince as the mischievous Puck. The four lovers will be Michael C Howlett as Demetrius, Abbie-lee Lewis as Hermia, Gabrielle Scawthorn as Helena and Jacob Warner as Lysander.
Kyle Morrison appears as Oberon and Theseus alongside Imogen Page as Titania and Hippolyta.
"As Australia's national theatre company, we cannot wait to return to touring and couldn't think of a better play than A Midsummer Night's Dream to really celebrate the joy and magic of live theatre," Mr Evans said.
Tour dates:
- July 2-3 | Orange Civic Theatre, Orange NSW
- July 6 | Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Wagga Wagga NSW
- July 8 | Griffith Regional Theatre, Griffith NSW
- July 10 | Dubbo Regional Theatre, Dubbo NSW
- July 14-24 | Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne Victoria
- July 29 | Albany Entertainment Centre, Albany WA
- July 31 | BREC, Bunbury WA (on sale soon)
- August 4-7 | State Theatre Centre of WA, Perth WA
- August 12-14 | Theatre Royal, Hobart TAS
- August 17 | Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool VIC
- August 19 | Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo VIC
- August 21 | Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura VIC
- August 24 | West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul VIC (on sale soon)
- August 26 | Riverlinks Westside Performing Arts Centre, Shepperton VIC (on sale soon)
- August 28 | Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre, Wangaratta VIC
- September 2 | Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin NT
- September 4 | Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs NT
- September 9 | Mackay Entertainment Centre, Mackay QLD
- September 11 | Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Cairns QLD (on sale soon)
- September 14 | Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton QLD
- September 16 | GECC, Gladstone QLD
- September 18 | Redlands Performing Arts Centre, Cleveland QLD
- September 22-23 | NORPA, Lismore NSW
- September 25 | Glasshouse Theatre, Port Macquarie NSW
- September 28 | Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nowra NSW
- October 12 - November 7 | Sydney Opera House, Sydney NSW
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