After an absence of a year due to loss of funding, Theatre Space NE’s summer season of Plays in the Parks returns this summer. With support from Sunderland City Council Libraries Services, the plays will return to Roker Park, Mowbray Park and Barnes Park with a mix of classic Shakespeare and specially commissioned children’s theatre in July and August.
Theatre Space calls its productions ‘expeditions’ and its audiences 'adventurers', as the performances are not static but weave their way throughout the parks with 'Expedition Guides' wearing orange uniforms on hand throughout for any guidance and assistance.
As has been the case since the first production in Barnes Park in 2012, each expedition will be free to attend, with dog walkers, bike riders and park users alike joining the journey along the route. No ticket purchase or advanced booking is necessary, although the opportunity to donate towards the cost of the productions, which again is a recommended £10 per explorer, will be provided at the end of the show. Attendees are free to give as much or as little as they like however.
Foldable chairs that can be easily transported around the park are allowed, although the shows generally don’t remain in one place for very long and, whilst every effort is made to provide step-free access for those with access requirements, it is not always possible to guarantee that the route will be entirely accessible. An alternative route may be used for wheelchair users, which may result in a section of the show being missed to accommodate the longer transfer.
The performance dates are:
- Henry V: 18 to 21 July 2019 at 7:00 nightly in Roker Park (meet at the Beach / Lower Promenade Entrance to the Park)
- The Tin Soldier: 10 to 11 August at 11:30 and 2:30 daily in Mowbray Park (meet at the Museum and Winter Gardens Gate)
- Comedy of Errors: 29 August to 1 September at 6:00 nightly in Barnes Park (meet outside the Coach House Café)
The importance of providing free and open access to cultural experiences like Plays in the Parks, in a period of significant cultural growth for the city, is recognised by Sunderland City Council Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, Councillor John Kelly, who said, “Sunderland Council are pleased to be able to support Plays in the Park providing opportunities for everyone to become involved in a fun and interactive experience and the works of Shakespeare through a local theatre company. The city has a real wealth of literary and creative talent and it's only right that we should celebrate that.”
Theatre Space’s Artistic Director Corinne Kilvington said, “when we took the incredibly difficult decision to rest the Plays In The Parks in 2018, we knew that we’d need to return, bigger and better than ever. We’re lucky enough to work with some of the area’s best performing talent and pride ourselves in offering opportunities to new talent emerging from the region’s excellent training institutions. Their talents, combined with our unique approach to storytelling and the growing appetite for this sort of thing in Sunderland, means that the 2019 Plays in the Parks season will be another unforgettable experience for our adventurers.”