PAUL SAVIDENT

The tradition of open air theatre is deeply rooted in British culture. For over a thousand years companies have created theatres in the centre of towns erecting a pageant wagon or scaffolding stage and performed great historical and classical drama for a mass audience. Shakespeare himself, whilst growing up in Stratford-upon-Avon, would have witnessed such companies performing in the heart of his home town. And although differing from all other genres, open air theatre is the most magical, accessible and historical performance style.

Wishing to continue this exciting and accessible tradition, Robert J. Williamson set about creating a festival in his home town of Leeds. Further festivals followed and today the R.J.Williamson Company has become "Britain’s largest and best loved open air theatre company" (The BBC) and by bringing theatre to the hearts of major cities they have established a new and vibrant audience for Shakespeare’s brilliant plays.

As the leading exponent in this field they have established major Shakespeare festivals for Brighton, Nottingham, Leeds, The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Cannizaro Park in Wimbledon and now in the West End at the world famous Holland Park Theatre.

By inviting audiences into a beautiful, historic site in the heart of each city, installing covered seating, and adding staging, set, lighting and sound the company creates a new temporary performance space that captures the imagination of the public; and by performing Shakespeare’s plays in a clear, engaging and traditional style the company has seen audience’s grow to over 100,000 throughout each summer tour.

During the ten years they have been working in this field they have performed over 700 shows, entertained hundreds of thousands of people, employed hundreds of actors – from movies to soap stars – and, of course, the finest Shakespearean actors, and each year have performed two of Shakespeare’s most popular plays: Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1995), Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It (1996), Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew (1997), Henry V and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1998), Hamlet and As You Like It (1999), Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing (2000), Macbeth and The Taming of the Shrew (2001), Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2002), As You Like It and Hamlet (2003).

Each year, with a full company of sixteen players including original live music and songs, beautiful period costumes and the magic of a summer’s evening, Robert J. Williamson has been fulfilling that aim of all actor-managers throughout the ages: to enchant and delight audiences of all classes and ages.