The Liverpool Shakespeare Festival 2009...

'There are two sides to every story . . .'

The Liverpool Shakespeare Festival is the North West's best-known annual theatre event. The festival was successfully introduced with an acclaimed production of 'Macbeth' in the summer of 2007, attracting many thousands of visitors and selling out Liverpool Cathedral. In 2008, it hosted Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and their beautiful production of 'A Winter's Tale' along with an outdoor cinema and Lodestar's production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', which attracted rave reviews from local and national press.

Lodestar Theatre Company - a Liverpool-based arts organisation with charitable status, which was formed by Artistic Director Max Rubin in 2006, presents the festival. Working only with artists and practitioners from Liverpool and the North West, Lodestar's work is characterised by a clear, dynamic acting style, innovative design and imaginative use of space. With The Liverpool Shakespeare Festival, they present Shakespeare's greatest plays as living, breathing texts for a 21st century audience.

For 2009, Lodestar will produce their most exciting season yet at two unique and very different venues. From 10-23rd August they present 'Hamlet' at St George's Hall, and from 1-13th Sept, 'Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead' by Tom Stoppard at Novas Contemporary Urban Centre. On 12-13th Sept, they will perform both plays 'back-to-back' using the same cast for both shows. Max Rubin, Director of The Liverpool Shakespeare Festival said:

"It was wonderful to host the Globe last year and to see the festival develop so dramatically in such a short time. It is hard to believe that only three years ago all this was just an idea. Performing at St George's Hall is a great honour for us - it is one of the world's great buildings and Hamlet is perhaps Shakespeare's greatest play. We're very excited to show our work in such a spectacular context."

The Novas Scarman Contemporary Urban Centre is an amazing new city-centre warehouse development that contains bars, restaurants, galleries, cinema and a beautiful brand-new theatre. Both productions use their very different venues as inspiration. The group wanted to produce 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead' alongside 'Hamlet' as they both inhabit the same world - the same cast of characters and events are seen from two very different perspectives. Using the same company for both shows is almost never done and all this will allow us to show how 'there are two sides to every story' in a very unique way.
'Hamlet' is a dynamic, fast-moving and powerful story of murder, passion and revenge that has captivated the imaginations of millions for nearly 500 years. 'Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead' is Tom Stoppard's best-known play. In turns hilarious and tragic, it tells the story of two unfortunate minor characters from 'Hamlet' and their doomed struggle to make sense of the world in the face of impossible odds.

As ever, the festival is a fantastic opportunity for local organisations, groups and individuals to get involved. The possibilities range from corporate sponsorship and advertising to work experience and hands-on involvement in the creative process. I'd like to encourage everyone who might be interested to get in touch.

Tickets are available from Mid-April from The Bluecoat Arts Centre or via the website.

Email: info@theliverpoolshakespearefestival.co.uk
Website: www.theliverpoolshakespearefestival.co.uk
Tel: 0151 324 4780