Congratulations to the New Shakespeare Company

'Such stuff as dreams are made on'

An amateur theatre group based in Quorn is celebrating awards totalling over £5000 from Charnwood Borough Council and the National Lottery's "Awards for All" programme.

The New Shakespeare Company was formed with the aim of presenting good quality productions of Shakespeare and other great works, and providing the opportunity for local people of all ages and diverse backgrounds the chance to take part in or attend affordable classic theatre. The Company aims to present at least two major productions of Shakespeare's works a year and in the future to produce many other classics penned by writers such as Marlow, Shaw, Jonson, Wilde and Chekhov.

But don't get the idea that the Company consists of stuffy intellectuals and earnest amateurs dissecting every word and phrase! The taking part, in whatever capacity, in an amateur production should be a lot of fun! Why do it otherwise?

And Shakespeare's plays, if not approached too reverently, provide huge amounts of fun. Buckets of comedy (okay some of it is quite obscure but it can be updated!), thundering tragedy, bloody fights, touches of the ethereal and the supernatural, heart rending love stories and of course some of the best poetry and prose the English language has to offer.

For an actor, amateur or otherwise, the lure to perform Shakespeare is irresistible so if you feel stirred to show us your 'Bottom' or to rally your troops for an all out assault against the French army, to ambitiously manipulate your husband to murder those in his path to the kingship or just to be an odd bodkin on stage or off then come along to a meeting, a rehearsal or a production. All are welcome, experienced or not.

In the meantime the Company is using the £4,800 grant from The National Lottery's Awards For All Programme and the £550 from Charnwood Borough Council to lay the foundations and provide the resources for all sorts of wonderful projects for the future. Rawlins Community College is also supporting the Company in its first year by providing rehearsal and performance space.

The New Shakespeare Company's first production, 'Romeo and Juliet', takes place over three nights on October 24, 25 and 26 at Rawlins Community College. Tickets will be available from Rawlins and from Flowers By Sarah from September.

For more information about The Company or current productions contact Sharon Scott on 01509 567176.