When you can see Shakespeare in The Cloisters at Peterborough Cathedral

The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, the UK’s leading all-male acting troupe, will perform the bard’s tragedy which on June 16 at 7.30pm will be the first theatrical production to be staged at the cathedral once the latest lockdown restrictions come to an end.

The company, whose alumni include the legendary Elizabethan actor Richard Burbage, are currently in rehearsals for the play. Early preparation for the actors involved using the online platform Zoom but the performance itself will be ‘in-person’.

The play focusses on the eponymous character who, overcome by ambition and driven on by his powerful wife, murders the king and sets in motion a terrible sequence of events from which there is no turning back.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for people to be entertained by watching a play exactly as William Shakespeare himself would’ve seen it performed”, said the company’s artistic director Peter Stickney. “After all, it’s in the open-air, acted by an all-male cast and it’s complete with Elizabethan costumes, music and dance.”

The present company, in its 16th year, is involved in a 14-week tour including more than 60 performances and takes place in all weather conditions.

“At a time when we’re emerging from the shadows of covid, this is a very safe way of inviting the public back to enjoy a theatre experience against the backdrop of our marvellous building”, commented the cathedral’s commercial director, Dave Cramp.

“We’re delighted to welcome a company of this calibre to the cathedral for what we’re certain will be a memorable experience for the audience”.

The performance will be carried out adhering to the latest Government safety guidelines relating to covid. Audience members are being encouraged to stand if able or bring a low-backed deckchair.

Tickets are £16 for adults and £10 for children, available now at www.ticketsource.co.uk/tlcm/macbeth/2021-06-16/19:30/t-xkjaey.

Peterborough Cathedral Cloisters will be the venue for other outdoor performances this summer. Check the website for more details www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/events.aspx.