Up The Road Theatre and Unity Theatre presents Shakespeare work to young audiences

UK The Road Theatre and Liverpool's Unity Theatre are excited to announce their new 2016 tour; Bardolph's Box, a small scale Shakespeare inspired production for 8 to 12 year olds, celebrating 400 years of Shakespeare's work. The 5 week tour will begin at Unity Theatre, Liverpool on Tuesday 1st March then continues to visit schools, libraries and theatres across the England's North West and South East, ending in The Citadel Arts Centre, St Helens, on Sunday, 3 April 2016.

Up The Road Theatre are a new company based in Kent and are delighted to join forces with Liverpool's Unity Theatre to create a work that explores literature, culture and history.

Bardolph's Box will inspire the younger generation and make Shakespeare fun. The touring company compromises of 3 actors: one to play Bardolph, Falstaff's sidekick from Henry IV's, Henry V and The Merry Wives of Windsor, and the other two playing a host of characters from Shakespeare's plays. The production will engage and include the audience by exploring the issues of each character as they visit Bardolph in search of assistance, by voting and en-masse contributions. The experienced actors will create a fun and safe atmosphere, and encourage rather than demand interaction.

The company will focus on some of Shakespeare's lesser known plays and characters, such as The 2 Gentlemen of Verona, The Comedy of Errors and the Nurse from Romeo and Juliet. Their exchanges with Bardolph will include both modern English and extracts from the plays, Bardolph himself has a quest of his own, which the characters and audience can help with. Many young children are initially put off from Shakespeare's complicated language, but this production utilises Shakespeare's language in a manner that makes it easier for a younger audience to understand.

Nicola Pollard, Director and Founder of Up The Road Theatre, said:- "We're really looking forward to introducing children (and their families!) to Bardolph and his wonderful world. Through an exciting myriad of characters, we're exploring a number of Shakespeare's plays, including 'The Comedy of Errors', 'Antony and Cleopatra', 'The Tempest' and 'Twelfth Night'. Our audience will be encouraged to help young Bardolph on his first big adventure, as he gets his friends out of fixes and deliberates their dilemmas. With live music, plenty of puppetry and a good dollop of humour, 'Bardolph's Box' is a brilliant way to celebrate Shakespeare 400th Anniversary!"

Matthew Linley, Chief Executive and Artistic Director at the Unity Theatre said:- "We're all really excited to be working alongside Up The Road Theatre to help little Bardolph come into the world; or rather into a library, school, arts venue or community hall near you. Developing Bardolph's Box is very much part of our ongoing commitment to making great work for under 12s and their families."

Join Bardolph, on a roller coaster ride through Shakespeare's stories. Who will you meet? Where will you go? Can you get his pals out of a pickle? One thing's for sure, you'll have a whole lot of fun along the way!
 

Tour Dates and information... Location Date Information Unity Theatre Liverpool Tuesday, 1 March 2016 6pm - Admission:- £6, Call:- 0151 709 4988 or visit this:- link  Museum of Wigan Life Wednesday, 2 March 2016 10.30am and 2pm. Schools only... Neston Library, Wirral Thursday, 3 March 2016 Call:- 0151 337 4670 or visit this:- link, (times and prices tbc). Little Sutton Library, Wirral Friday, 4 March 2016 Times and prices tbc... Call:- 0151 339 3373 or visit this:- link. Upton Library, Wirral Saturday, 5 March 2016 Call:- 01244 973700 or  visit this:- link (times and prices tbc). Childwall Library, Liverpool Thursday, 9 March 2016, 3.30pm Free Admission.  Call:- 0151 233 3069 or visit this:- link. Museum of Wigan Life Friday, 10 March 2016, Schools only. 10.30am and 2pm. Call 0151 233 3069 or visit this:- link. Liverpool Central Library Friday, 11 March 2016, Free admission. 10.30am. Call 0151 233 3069 or visit this:- link. Avenue Theatre, Sittingbourne, Kent Monday, 14 March 2016 1.30pm - Admission:- £7 adults / £6 child.  Call 01795 471140 or visit this:- link. Minster Library, Ramsgate, Kent Tuesday, 15 March 2016 10.15am, Free Admission. Ramsgate Library, Kent Tuesday, 15 March 2016  2pm, Free Admission. Astor Theatre, Deal, Kent Thursday, 17 March 2016 1.30pm and 7.30pm, Admission:- £7 adults / £6 child. Call:- 01304 370220 or visit this:- link. Ashford Library, Kent Saturday, 19 March 10.30am - Free Admission. Horsebride Arts Centre, Whitstable, Kent Monday, 21 March 2016 1pm and 4.30pm - Admission:-- £6. Call 01277 281174 or visit this:-  link. The Woodville, Gravesend, Kent Tuesday, 22 March 2016, 2pm - Admission:- £8 (£5 concession) Call 08442 439480 or visit this:- link. Sandwich Library, Kent Wednesday, 23 March 2016 10.15am. Free Admission Rye Creative Centre, East Sussex Thursday, 24 March 2016 1.30pm - Admission:- £5 Call:- 01797 229797 or visit this:-  link. Exchange Studio, Maidstone, Kent Friday, 25 March 2016 7pm - Admission:- £9 (£8 concession / £7 child) Call:- 01622 758611 or visit this:-  link. The Stag Plaza, Sevenoaks, Kent Saturday, 26 March 2016 2.30pm, admission:- £6 Call 01732 450175 or visit this:- link. Toxteth Library, Liverpool Wednesday, 30 March 2016 10.30am - Free Admission. Norris Green Library, Liverpool Wednesday, 30 March 2016 1.30pm - Free Admission. West Derby Library, Liverpool Thursday, 31 March 2016 10.30am - Free Admission. Liverpool Central Library Thursday, 31 March 2016 4.30pm - Free Admission. Lancaster Library, Lancashire Saturday, 2 April 2016 2pm - Prices tbc. Citadel Arts Centre, St Helens Sunday, 3 April 2016  2pm. Admission:- £7 (£5 concession).  Call:- 01744 735436 or visit this:-  link.

Above is correct only at time of publication.