Trinity College Dublin Shakespeare Festival Launched

May 16, 2011

Dublin city will act as a stage for the works of William Shakespeare during the Trinity College Dublin Shakespeare Festival which will run from June 1st – 11th next.  The festival, which is organised by the Dublin University Players and supported by the TCD Association and Trust, is one of the largest events of the Irish theatre calendar featuring over 50 different performances of William Shakespeare's work, all of which will take place throughout Dublin's most idyllic locations.

During the festival over 400 professional and amateur actors will perform both full-length Shakespeare written and influenced plays as well as short extracts of his work.  The GB Theatre Company, Britain’s largest outdoor Shakespeare company, will perform two of William Shakespeare’s greatest plays, the classic comedy Twelfth Night and his much loved tragedy, Romeo and Juliet.  The headline performances will take place each evening in a specially constructed outdoor theatre in the Front Square of Trinity College.  Numerous student directed pieces will also feature during the festival along with workshops for those who want to get more acquainted with Shakespeare’s style and techniques.

Miriam O'Callaghan and Lord Mayor of Dublin, Gerry Breen, pose with actors dressed as famous Shakespeare characters and members of DU Players at the launch of the 2011 Trinity College Dublin Shakespeare Festival.

Dressed in Elizabethan costume, RTE broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan launched the festival along with Lord Mayor of Dublin, Gerry Breen.  Speaking at the launch Miriam highlighted the important civic duty the festival plays by connecting people of the Dublin community to the theatre.  Festival Director, Marc Atkinson continued: “In a time of widespread funding cuts to the arts the Trinity College Dublin Shakespeare Festival presents an opportunity for us to maintain cultural artistic links within the theatre community in Ireland.”

The festival promises spectators a mix of comedy, music, tragedy, poetry and spectacle performed in settings that will add to the atmosphere and drama.  A full programme of events is available on the festival website, www.dublinshakespeare.com.

Photo gallery.