Men Dressed as Women!

Dear Friend Bev paid a flying visit, specifically for M and I to share her birthday present (which she has patiently waited for since the beginning of the year), tickets to see an open air production of William Shakespeare’s play ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ which was being performed in the beautiful walled garden of Holkham Hall, here in Norfolk.
The theatrical company delivering the play were the much acclaimed ‘Lord Chamberlain’s Men’.  This open air travelling Theatre Company is named after Shakespeare’s original troupe of travelling players.  And like the original players they are an all male cast, who also play the female parts!  They play in some of the UK's most historic settings (around 70 different venues throughout the summer). This was my first experience of their work and they were absolutely brilliant, performing the play with much enthusiasm and energy; it really brought the play to life.  How they manage to make each performance so fresh during their summer long season is a real testament to their skill and ability.
We took along chairs and a picnic and watched the sun set and sky darken during this marvellous performance.  We were also treated to natural sound effects, most particularly the hooting of a tawny owl once darkness fell.
A magical experience and one I’ll never forget!