2022 Festival Launch:  Shakespeare’s Dystopia - What Will Be…

 Shakespeare’s Dystopia - What Will Be…

April 28 through to May 15 2022

The 2022 Shakespeare on the River Festival takes on a futuristic twist with over 20 Dystopian events in 20 days. Are you ready?

Opening Night - Our official launch at The Stratford Courthouse Theatre. Featuring live performances, announcement of the winners in the Sheila Malady Short story competition, and our annual festival awards.

Groundwork Youth Theatre - You Should See Me In A Crown  

A dystopian reimagining of King Lear set to the songs of Billie Eilish. The tragic tale of a family torn apart by greed and power, turning sisters, and countries, against one another. Who will make it out alive? Stratford’s own local youth theatre group return with yet another intriguing Shakespearean reinterpretation. Punchy, one hour performances by a talented, strong ensemble. Their shows are not to be missed! 3 performances only April 28-30 at The Stratford Courthouse Theatre.

Musical Nosh - Combining voice and movement with a hearty meal. This year local music/performing arts teacher Rachel Steinmann leads us in an afternoon of rhythm, soup and song. No previous musical experience is necessary. Tickets $15 includes lunch. Bookings essential. Saturday April 30th 12-3pm Stratford Mechanics Hall

Dramawerkz - Hello Archive

The world is ending and Tom absolutely refuses to save it. Instead, he gathers his friends in the town's old theatre to create an archive of their world: the stories, memories and classics that have shaped their lives so far. This visiting youth theatre company from Melbourne is coming for their third visit to our festival. Catch them in a double feature with our own Groundwork Youth Theatre on Saturday April 30 7,30pm

 

Avon Village Faire & Market Day - MayDay! Sunday 1st 10am-3pm on the Stratford Village Green, Cnr Dixon St & Railway Reserve Rd


In 2022 there will be a grand variety of traditional arts and crafts, food and beverages, fresh produce, together with exhibitions and displays.

Features of the day include the children’s games on the Village Green run by Groundwork Youth Theatre. Craft and lost trades demonstrations at The ArtCOLT. Two separate sound stages with performances by The Singers Songwriter Storytellers Stratford crew, upcoming young talent from Julie Ward Music classes and theatrical performances by Courthouse Kids.

Food vendors, art & craft stalls, and fundraising opportunities for many local community groups. Plus don’t miss the “Avonshire Teas” at the Historical Society.


There is still time to book a stall call Faire Day Coordinator Aynslie - 0405 633 456


Evensong - Sunday May 1 4.30pm 

Evensong at the Holy Trinity Church is a Shakespeare on the River Festival tradition. Come along and celebrate this ecumenical service with us. 

Community Players present - The Macbeths

In a post-apocalyptic world, two lovers try to find something to live for. When starting a family fails them, they choose power. But leading a violent society permits the question: is humanity worth fighting for? 

With six performances across the second two weeks of the festival this new take on one of Shakespeare’s most well known plays pushes the Dystopian feel of our festival to its limits. Melbourne based theatre maker Emma Gough has crafted a bleak but powerful take on the classic theme of greed and made central to the story the fate of humanity itself. Come support the players that come from all walks of life in our community to strut their one hour upon the stage. Opens Friday 6th May

Bard’s Banquet - The Final Feast 

A doomsday dinner like no other! In this not too distant dystopian future we gather for a banquet with The Macbeths to celebrate the apocalypse in style. It may be the end of the world as we know it but we feel fine. Dress in your best wasteland warrior garb or embrace the remnants of a bygone finery. We will feast, fight, fill our cups and dance the night away.

The ever popular Bard’s Banquet will once more give folk the chance to dress to theme. Tickets include a three course meal and entertainment. Wits End Bar by The Courthouse Theatre will be selling locally produced craft beer, wines and ciders. Saturday May 7th at 7.30pm. Book early to avoid missing out!

Combined Primary School’s Production - War of the Roses  

The tussle for the English crown is played out between the Houses of York and Lancaster in a sporting battle for the English throne.  A melodrama of Shakespeare's powerful first play of nationhood and power with the Henry VI trilogy and Richard III, featuring a brilliant young cast.

This event is impressive for the opportunity it provides young people plus its longevity, having now run for longer than people can remember! Best guess it is close to 30 years -  as long as the festival itself. Darren McCubbin once again takes the helm, bringing together both local primary school’s Grade 6 students - a cast of 38 in total. We appreciate the difficulties that he has to overcome with Covid looming over planning, auditioning and rehearsals. The committee is thankful for his persistence and the support from St Patrick's Primary Stratford and Stratford Primary in ensuring this unique collaboration continues. May 10 & 11 at 1.30pm and 6pm on Friday 13th May at the Mechanics Hall.

As You Like It – Presented by the ASC Graduate Players

Returning to our festival for the first time in 7 years the ASC graduate players will tackle the much loved comedy As You Like It - a tale that begins with banishment to the woods of Arden, is filled with famous quotes, fools, fighting, crossdressing lovers and ends with not one but four weddings!

This production is the culmination of a 12 week intensive course provided by The Australian Shakespeare Company. The course is trying to create a bridge between drama school and the theatre industry. Giving students a chance to work with professional ASC staff, including directors, musical directors, choreographers and actors, they are coached in Shakespeare techniques and acting methodologies.

One performance only that wraps up our entire festival on Sunday May 15, 6.30pm at The Stratford Courthouse Theatre.

Be ready for the 2022 festival - something wicked this way comes!

The Shakespeare On The River Festival is sponsored by The Wellington Shire Council through a Community Assistance Grant, the festival gratefully acknowledges this support.  


2019 Bard's Banquet: A Dead Man's Party
option banner Sooth Players (2).jpg

Tickets are on sale now for The Bard’s Banquet. One of the most popular and fun evenings in the Shakespeare on the River Festival program. Saturday April 27 will be a night of wondrous macabre as we celebrate all things ShakesFeare. Banquet goers are treated to a three course meal, drinks at the Bard’s Bar and top class entertainment by The Soothplayers direct from The Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Back for their fourth appearance in the festival, The Soothplayers have received rave reviews for Completely Improvised Shakespeare. Each performance is a completely new work, using Shakespearean language, themes and style. Even the musical accompaniment is completely improvised! The cast includes veterans of the Australian Shakespeare Company as well as Melbourne’s premier improvisation troupes, including The Improv Conspiracy, Impro Melbourne, The Big HOO-HAA!, and Impromptunes. They work hard to provide a high-quality, hilarious show that is guaranteed to be frightfully funny. Revellers will then have the chance to dance into the witching hour with the resident DJ.

So come dressed in your best ghouls, ghosts or outfits of the undead. Tickets $60 per head, book early to avoid disappointment. For tickets and bookings head to our What’s On page here.

Fearecrow Competition

Stratford is getting into the swing of SHAKESFEARE with its annual Shakespeare on the River festival going dark, with a theme where the Bards villains will come out to play in Ghost Tours, Street performances, live theatre and the evilness of the night in a DEAD MANS BANQUET. It’s not for the faint hearted but certainly fun for the kids as we are encouraging people of Gippsland to dress up their gardens with a ShakesFEARECROW. The more macabre the better, Dead kings, raging knights and just plain old scarecrows. Simply build your own fearecrow and take a photo of it in your garden, tag #shakesfearecrow and #shakesfeare2019 on social media and go into the draw to win a full 2019 festival pack including Double passes to 3 live performances and two festival T shirts. The aptly named “Straw” kids, Mitch and Sammie helped create the festivals signature fearecrow “GAPE”. Gape will be at the festival twilight Fear, a free event held from 3-8pm on Sat May 4, feel free to bring your own fearecrows along to join him for “the gathering or feare” and enjoy fun, music, theatre and feasting in a family friendly environment. For more information on the SHAKESFEARE festival and its events visit www.stratfordshakespeare.com.au

ShakesFeare Twilight Market

Come be stall holder - if you dare! This year’s Shakespeare on the River Festival explores all that is spooky and supernatural in The Bard. From the witches of Macbeth to the wandering ghost of Hamlet’s father, an exploration of Stratford’s own dark past and a take on Shakespeare’s most famous villains, the two week festival will embrace what it is to be afraid.

In a big shake up of tradition our Medieval Market for 2019 is a twilight event, on Saturday May 4th running from 3pm into the evening. After the great succes of last year, the pop up Shakesbeer bar will return, again stocked with locally crafted beers and wines. With two live music stages, food stalls, craft makers and artisans at work, acting workshops and medieval games on the village green, there is sure to be something for everyone.

The faire is a brilliant opportunity for local businesses and individuals to have their products displayed and get involved in an excellent community festival. The event is a major fundraiser for many community groups. To add to the colour of the faire we would love everyone to come dressed up, so don your best ghoulish garb or traditional medieval outfit.


Any food vans, arts and craft makers or stall holders who wish to come join in the fun contact Faire Day coordinator Aynslie on 0405 633 456 or  shakespeareontheriverfestival@gmail.com

2019 Shakespeare on the River Festival "ShakesFeare"

The 2019 Shakespeare on the River festival embraces the role of supernatural in the works of William Shakespeare. From Hamlet’s dead father to the witches of Macbeth, The Bard invoked plenty of ghosts, sprites and things that go bump in the night to frighten his audience.  The festival runs over two weeks starting on Friday 26th April with a grand opening in the Stratford Courthouse Theatre and performance by Groundwork Youth Theatre. In a big opening weekend Saturday 27th April sees The Bard’s Banquet – A Dead Man’s party , a three course meal with a Shakespearean twist. Featuring the dark comedic talents of improv troupe The Soothplayers, the night gives the banquet goers the chance to dress up in their ghoulish best and dance the night away. This is one of the highlights of the Festival, often booking out weeks in advance.

In a change from tradition the popular market day will run on Saturday May 4th, starting at three o’clock in the afternoon and running into the evening. With the return of the pop up Shakesbeer bar, two live music stages, food stalls, craft makers and artisans at work, acting workshops and medieval games on the village green there is sure to be something for everyone. Come dressed in your best medieval outfit or ghoulish garb to join in the fun of a twilight faire.


In addition to the usual theatrical performances, audiences are also invited to come join in a guided ghost tour. Explore the darker side of old Stratford town then finish with a warm spiced cider by the Courthouse Theatre fire.For tickets and all things Shakespeare visit stratfordshakespeare.com.au

2019 Sheila Malady Short Story Competition

Entries are now open for the 2019 Shakespearean inspired short story competition. Now in its sixth year, it is an opportunity for writers from all over to be a part of Stratford’s annual Shakespeare on the River Festival. In keeping with the 2019 festival theme Shakesfeare, we want your very own short tales of terror.  The Bard himself used ghosts, witches, monsters and tyrannical kings to both scare and entertain his audiences - now it is your turn. Whether it be frightfully funny or seriously spooky, send us your best original work of less than 2000 words.

There are prizes across three categories. First prize includes $300 cash, two tickets to a performance of the community play, The Taming of the Shrew and a beautiful wooden quill crafted by local artist Gavin Roberts. The local prize for a writer residing in Gippsland includes a Collins Book voucher plus two tickets to the community play. The final category is for a young writer aged under 18 who will receive a book voucher, thanks to our local Sale Collins Booksellers.

Closing date for entries is Tuesday, March 26th , 2019 at 11.59pm AEDT. There is a five dollar entry fee. Winners will be announced at the opening night of the festival at The Stratford Courthouse Theatre on Friday 26th April. For full terms and conditions of the competition, and to check out our past winners,  please visit stratfordshakespeare.com.au

The Shakespeare On The River Festival is sponsored by The Wellington Shire Council through a Community Assistance Grant, the festival gratefully acknowledges this support.