Summer of Shakespeare

This summer we celebrate 400 years of Shakespeare in Durham in the best possible way - through world-class theatre

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of “Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies”, better known to us today as the First Folio. The book, a landmark publication even at the time it was printed, has over time acquired iconic status. We are proud to have a copy of the First Folio within our collections.

This summer we are celebrating the links we have to the Great Bard and welcoming exceptional productions of his plays to the City, produced by both our students and our partner organisations - The Elysium Theatre and the Durham Fringe Festival.

Play On

On 9 November the Durham University-BFI Partnership is delighted to bring you a specially selected series of silent movie clips celebrating the work of the Bard.

Introduced by Professor Simon James, the evening includes contributions from the BFI’s Shakespeare on film expert, Bryony Dixon. Associate Professor in History, Amanda Herbert will talk on Elizabethan foods and the unusual flavoured popcorn on offer. Live music will be performed by Associate Professor John Snijders and Assistant Professor Hector Sequera-Mora.

The Shakespeare Podcasts

To celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the First Folio of Shakespeare's complete works, Elysium Theatre Company and Durham University speak to leading Shakespeare actors and scholars in a new series of podcasts.

In the first episode, Sir Derek Jacobi talks about a lifetime of performing some of Shakespeare's most famous characters: Hamlet, Prospero and Lear.

See the full playlist

We are thrilled to be launching the Durham Shakespeare Festival this year. And what better time to do so than the 400th Anniversary of the First Folio of Shakespeare’s Complete Works? Shakespeare is truly for everyone, and it’s a joy to bringing his work to the people of Durham and the wider North East with two top-notch home grown productions filled with actors who grew up here

Jake Murray

Artistic Director at the Elysium Theatre Company

The Elysium Theatre present Macbeth and Midsummer Night's Dream

This summer we partnered with the Elysium Theatre Company - an award-winning, independent theatre company based in Durham.

To celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the publication of the First Folio of the complete works of Shakespeare, Elysium Theatre Company brought us a powerhouse season of two of Shakespeare’s most famous and popular plays, Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Performed with a company of 13 actors in the historic heart of Durham City, with special one-off performances at Shaw House and Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Elysium brought Shakespeare to the County with a bang this summer.

Find out more about the Elysium

What was it like to go to the theatre in Shakespeare’s time?

We talk to Natalie Mears, Professor of Tudor and early Stuart history, about the experience of going to the theatre in Shakespeare's time

Castle Theatre Company Summer Shakespeare Tour 2023

Castle Theatre Company is delighted to announce its 2023 touring production of one of Shakespeare’s best loved comedies: A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Find out more

Durham Fringe Festival

This summer we partnered with the Durham Fringe Festival to deliver The Summer of Shakespeare. The Durham Fringe, now in it's third year, is a grassroots organisation made up of local people, working alongside local businesses, looking to grow a collective dream of our own fringe festival in Durham City. The festival took place 26 - 30 July, with an action-packed schedule offering something for everyone.

Framing Shakespeare

Come along to Cosin’s Library to view 18th century prints inspired by the works of Shakespeare.

On display in this exhibition are prints from a portfolio created for the Shakespeare Gallery project by John Boydell in 1789, with scenes from Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the Taming of the Shrew. The exhibition will run until 11 September.

Find out more

Promotional image for framing Shakespear event

Daniel Blank: The Shakespeare Podcasts

As part of the Shakespeare podcast series, produced in partnership with the Elysium Theatre Company, Daniel Blank, Assistant Professor in Early Modern literature, discusses Shakespeare's theatre practise and the context of the Elizabethan stage which formed the backdrop of his work.

Listen Now

An Act of Defiance

Dr Daniel Blank in conversation with Jake Murray, Artistic Director of the Elysium Theatre on directing Macbeth for the Summer of Shakespeare

Elysium Theatre Company’s are about to perform a new production of Macbeth, which forms part of this summer’s Durham Shakespeare Festival. Jake Murray tells Daniel Blank about how past productions have influenced his new staging, and how contemporary events have given this canonical play a fresh significance.

“We are incredibly proud to have one of Shakespeare’s First Folios within our collections. Our celebrations, through a Summer of Shakespeare, mark the 400th anniversary of the Folios and are part of our deep-rooted commitment to supporting community, culture, creativity and heritage in our City, County and the North East."

Professor Janet Stewart

Executive Dean (Arts and Humanities)

Dr Daniel Blank on Shakespeare and Student Theatre

Our resident Shakespeare expert, Dr Daniel Blank from the Department of English Studies, tells us about the influence that student theatre had on Shakespeare’s work, and the enduring influence of his plays for our current students. The video features Durham University Classical Theatre and their production of Twelfth Night.

Watch now

Study Shakespeare at Durham

Would you like to learn more?

Find out more about the wealth of opportunities to study Shakespeare in more depth in our world-leading Department of English Studies, through both our undergraduate and postgraduate course options

Find out more and apply

Student Blogs

Hear from the students involved in Shakespeare productions this summer

Highlights

Producing an Immersive Production of Antony and Cleopatra

Tully Hyams is co-founder of Walkabout Productions, one of Durham Student Theatre’s newest companies. He is currently producing their second show, Antony & Cleopatra, which involves co-ordinating a cast and crew of thirty students (and counting) through to performances in mid-June.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: a touring production

Flo Lunnon invites you to enjoy this summer's touring production of A Midsummer Night's Dream this summer and explains why outdoor theatre is so such special to watch and be involved in

Producing an Immersive Production of Antony and Cleopatra

Tully Hyams is co-founder of Walkabout Productions, one of Durham Student Theatre’s newest companies. He is currently producing their second show, Antony & Cleopatra, which involves co-ordinating a cast and crew of thirty students (and counting) through to performances in mid-June.

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream: a touring production

Flo Lunnon invites you to enjoy this summer's touring production of A Midsummer Night's Dream this summer and explains why outdoor theatre is so such special to watch and be involved in

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