The HandleBards cycle through a wood.
When: 25th May – 10th September 2016
Where: At venues across the UK
£: Ticket prices cost from £0 – £20, depending on the venue
What is it?
To mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the HandleBards have announced their 4 for 400 season. Four Shakespeare plays, each performed by four actors who will cycle to over 70 venues across the country; with all of their set, props and costumes in tow.
Liam Mansfield as Richard III.
This is the HandleBards’ fourth UK season, having begun their adventure in 2013 with a 967 mile cycle from Glasgow to London. Back then, it was theatre on a shoestring – and not meant figuratively – the boys used shoelaces and a sponge to attach their trailers to their bikes.
Since then, the group have gone from strength-to-strength. They’ve grown from a set of friends with cheap bikes and a rickety old trailer, to an internationally successful theatre company. They have performed their brand of fast-paced, bicycle-powered Shakespeare in twelve countries across three continents, winning the support of legions of fans.
“With six plays and five thousand miles under our belt, we’re ready for our biggest and most ambitious season yet!” says producer and founder Paul Moss. “In this anniversary year, as a way of celebrating the life of the great British playwright, we are excited to put our first ever all-female troupe on the road alongside our internationally acclaimed all-male troupe.”
The HandleBards’ troupes, known for their ongoing drive to promote sustainability within the arts, will be cycling 2500 miles between them. Taking different routes from London to Edinburgh.
The HandleBards get ready to take to the road.
They will perform all-male an Much Ado About Nothing and Richard III, and an all-female Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew. Performing at castles, gardens, bicycle yards and stately homes throughout the country.
The boys troupe will be touring the UK from Wednesday 25th May until Saturday 3rd September. The girls will be touring from Tuesday 5th July until Saturday 10th September.
More info: www.handlebards.com