A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Our flagship production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream under the stars is a dazzling spectacle sure to delight audiences of all ages!

The jewel in the Shakespeare comedy crown is set to take you on a riotous ride through the interwoven world of Lovers, Fairies and Fools. See the gardens lit up at night, glowing and sparkling beyond your wildest imaginings while you reel with laughter as you witness the comedy that is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

When the feuding king and queen of the fairies cross paths with a quartet of runaway lovers and a group of tradesmen come amateur actors attempting to rehearse a play, one night in the enchanted forest becomes one wild ride! As the fairies magically meddle in the lives of the mortals, love triangles and transformations begin to occur with hilarious consequences!

Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing, draws on pop music, rock imagery, pantomime and sitcom. The result is not so much a play-within-a-play, as a play within a rock concert. Packed full of 90s pop & rock music, this musical production is wonderfully romantic, hilariously funny and truly rocks along!

It is an energetic and well executed romp where the spirit of rock n roll is moulded into one of the bards most entertaining plays. Bold, cheeky, courageous and self-effacing; this battle of the sexes rom-com takes flight in a version unlike any you’ve seen before!

Enjoy the summer tradition of Shakespeare Under the Stars and as the sun goes down, sit back, pop the cork and revel in this feel-good story where everyone lives happily ever after.

The Popular Mechanicals

The popular mechanicals are Shakespeare’s greatest clowns – the endearingly amateur acting ensemble led by Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Here, they take centre-stage in a wild imagining of what goes on in the wings.

The result is a riotously funny mix of Shakespearean verse, songs and dance that is lewd, rude and ingenious. Clowning, vaudeville, slapstick, farce, stand-up comedy and some hilarious puppetry come together to create an unhinged feast of wit and profanity.

Two Gents

A Commedia dell’Arte adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Set in early 1930’s Hollywood our troupe of 5 actors employ physical comedy, slapstick, song, mask and countless quick changes to tell this comedic tale in a world where hopes and dreams are dashed quicker than they are made and nothing is what it seems.

Lights, Camera, Action!!

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Our flagship production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream under the stars is a dazzling spectacle sure to delight audiences of all ages!

The jewel in the Shakespeare comedy crown is set to take you on a riotous ride through the interwoven world of Lovers, Fairies and Fools. See the gardens lit up at night, glowing and sparkling beyond your wildest imaginings while you reel with laughter as you witness the comedy that is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

When the feuding king and queen of the fairies cross paths with a quartet of runaway lovers and a group of tradesmen come amateur actors attempting to rehearse a play, one night in the enchanted forest becomes one wild ride! As the fairies magically meddle in the lives of the mortals, love triangles and transformations begin to occur with hilarious consequences!

‍General Admission – $20 to $59
A Reserve – $40 to $99

A Reserve Package Available

On arrival at the venue, you’ll be given a souvenir programme and shown to your own Premium Reserved seating area with personalised low rise chair on a picnic rug under the stars. Once you’re settled, head to the bar pre-show to pick up your bottle of wine or champagne to enjoy during the performance. During the interval, or whenever you please, you’ll have the opportunity to take pleasure in your complimentary tea, coffee or hot chocolate.

Completely Improvised Shakespeare

Nominee Best Comedy 2019 Melbourne Fringe

Soothplayers improvise an hilarious Shakespearean play from nothing but a suggested title from the audience, all on the damned spot! They guarantee you will laugh or your money back.

Comedy? Tragedy? History? From star-crossed lovers to sword-crossed duels, Soothplayers provide everything that four centuries of theatre-goers know and love. The show is fast-paced and action-packed, promising laughs and gasps in equal measure.

Soothplayers have received rave reviews for Completely Improvised Shakespeare. Each performance is a completely new work, using Shakespearean language, themes and style. Even the musical accompaniment is completely improvised!

The cast includes veterans Melbourne’s premier improvisation troupes, including The Improv Conspiracy, Impro Melbourne and The Big HOO-HAA!. They deliver a high-quality, hilarious show that is guaranteed to be unlike anything else you will see this Festival!

Plague season hath calmed, so come on Groundlings: off to the ticket-monger with ye!

‘A sure bet.’ Herald Sun

‘Soothplayers’ rowdy, hilarious plays are incredibly enjoyable and kind of astounding.’ The Age

‘★★★★★’ Glam Adelaide

‘Unforgettable. ★★★★½’ What’s On In Adelaide

‘Will leave you wondering why you didn’t enjoy studying Shakespeare at school. ★★★★’ Planet Arts

‘Genius. ★★★★½’ Theatre People

‘Nothing short of awe-inspiring. ★★★★’ The Music

‘Clever, charming and wildly impressive from start to finish.’ Beat Magazine

Macbeth

The Macbeths are back with their unparalleled thrust for the ultimate power of the throne.

“Their passion foreach other is absolute in every way, as much metaphysical as erotic. The lust for power fuses with mutual desire and enhances the turbulence”

A stunning mix of minds games and manipulation, sparked by the prophesies of three witches that Macbeth encounters on the heath as he returns from war, triggers his burning ambition which in turn ignites an inferno in his wife to inspire him to kill for the crown.

Invading armies, blood, dark magic, sabotage, power, storms and ghosts of our pasts. Take all the spirits of those who have strived for power and relentlessly fought for control, this, is the story of Macbeth.

Macbeth is widely known to be a play about the politics of Scotland and a monarch under threat during a moment of evolution. The play as distant as it may be from our world today reflects, the ever- ever-changing dynamics of current political situations.

William Shakespeare’s shortest but most relentless tragedy illustrates a different way of life from what society is currently accustomed to, but reflects deeply on our modern world.

“Macbeth, accusing himself of poor malice or inadequate slaughter, rouses himself to an apocalyptic ambition to tear apart the universe itself, destroying this world and the world to come.”

General Admission – $20 to $59
A Reserve – $40 to $99

A Reserve Package Available

On arrival at the venue, you’ll be given a souvenir programme and shown to your own Premium Reserved seating area with personalised low rise chair on a picnic rug under the stars. Once you’re settled, head to the bar pre-show to pick up your bottle of wine or champagne to enjoy during the performance. During the interval, or whenever you please, you’ll have the opportunity to take pleasure in your complimentary tea, coffee or hot chocolate.

The Popular Mechanicals

The popular mechanicals are Shakespeare’s greatest clowns – the endearingly amateur acting ensemble led by Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Here, they take centre-stage in a wild imagining of what goes on in the wings.

The result is a riotously funny mix of Shakespearean verse, songs and dance that is lewd, rude and ingenious. Clowning, vaudeville, slapstick, farce, stand-up comedy and some hilarious puppetry come together to create an unhinged feast of wit and profanity.

The Popular Mechanicals

The popular mechanicals are Shakespeare’s greatest clowns – the endearingly amateur acting ensemble led by Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Here, they take centre-stage in a wild imagining of what goes on in the wings.

The result is a riotously funny mix of Shakespearean verse, songs and dance that is lewd, rude and ingenious. Clowning, vaudeville, slapstick, farce, stand-up comedy and some hilarious puppetry come together to create an unhinged feast of wit and profanity.

The Popular Mechanicals

The popular mechanicals are Shakespeare’s greatest clowns – the endearingly amateur acting ensemble led by Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Here, they take centre-stage in a wild imagining of what goes on in the wings.

The result is a riotously funny mix of Shakespearean verse, songs and dance that is lewd, rude and ingenious. Clowning, vaudeville, slapstick, farce, stand-up comedy and some hilarious puppetry come together to create an unhinged feast of wit and profanity.