Shakespeare’s lesser-known comedy, All’s Well That Ends Well, is being performed by Masque Theatre at Abington Park Museum, starting this week.
The production will be staged in the courtyard of the museum and runs from Thursday July 25 to Saturday August 3.
A spokesman for Masque Theatre said the venue was one of Northamptonshire’s most historic and picturesque open air locations.
“It has the added romance of being where Shakespeare’s grand-daughter Elizabeth spent her final years as wife to Sir John Bernard,” he said.
The story follows Helena, played by Verity Johnson, who is secretly in love with Bertram, a handsome young nobleman, played by Lewis Marks, the son of her guardian the Countess of Rossillion. But to win his hand in marriage there are seemingly impossible tasks to perform. Bertram has left home, summoned to Paris by the dying King of France; later he travels to Italy, to fight in the Tuscan wars. Helena must use all her skills, her inherited medical knowledge and exceptional determination, to win the man she loves. But at what cost?
The spokesman added: “One of Shakespeare’s most modern, dynamic and intriguing plays, with its blend of fairy-tale plot and colourful yet realistic characters, it is performed in full period costume by a cast of 30 actors and musicians.
“With the year 1660 chosen as the setting, we imagine that Shakespeare’s grand-daughter welcomes you to her home, to celebrate the return to the throne of exiled King Charles II, and the re-opening of public theatres, closed during the Civil War.”
This production is directed by one of Masque Theatre’s most experienced directors, Ursula Wright. Ursula recently directed Masque’s 80th Anniversary Gala performance at the Royal Theatre, other productions include; Dancing at Lughnasa, A Christmas Carol, As You Like It and Oh What a Lovely War.
All’s Well That Ends Well is on from Thursday July 25 to Saturday August 3 (excluding Sunday July 28), 7.30pm in the courtyard of Abington Park Museum, Northampton. Tickets are adults £10, concessions £8, children £5. A family ticket is available for £26 (two adults and two children). Cash or cheques only. Doors open at 7pm.
Tickets are available on the door only (no pre-booked tickets). As this is an open-air production, performances are dependent on the weather. Seating is provided.
For more information, visit www.masquetheatre.co.uk