Your Bard

An audience with Will Shakespeare in the pub

Winner of the Holland Playwriting Award

Written in Seaside, Florida, as part of the Escape To Create residency programme in January 2016. UK Premiere at the Jersey Opera House in March 2016, International Premiere at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre in July 2016. Has toured throughout the UK and has also appeared at the REP Theatre in Seaside, Florida. Part of the Arts Council of England’s Inn Crowd scheme, the show has also been performed in pubs in Norfolk, Suffolk, Kent and Sussex.

The show had its Australian Premiere at the Adelaide Fringe 2018 – in Treasury 1860, one of the best bars in SA!

Written and performed by Nicholas Collett
Additional material by William Shakespeare

Directed by Gavin Robertson

Professor Nother is giving a talk about Shakespeare authorship in the function room at the Shakespeare pub – but he doesn’t believe the man from Stratford wrote those plays.

That’s Will’s cue to kick the door off the hinges and defend his reputation. Come and meet the man himself and take the lid off a legend in your local. He’ll tell you all about his family, what it’s like on tour and the glory days at the Globe. Queen Elizabeth I, Christopher Marlowe and Ned Alleyn – you’ll meet them too. Intermingled with a few of his greatest hits – and maybe a sonnet or a song.

There’s no fourth wall here – we’re all in this together!!

Ladies and gentlemen raise your glasses – Your Bard!

RUNNING TIMES
FULL LENGTH

A two-part play

Act 1: 20 mins

Interval

Act 2: 60 mins

FESTIVAL LENGTH
Act 2 only

REVIEWS

“A piece of pure theatre magic” Bay Life Magazine

“Beautifully crafted…make sure you catch this very real force in British Theatre” Love Shrewsbury

“Very clever, very funny and superbly performed” Broadway World

“Truly intimate, funny and energetic” The Pitch, Kansas City

“Full of humour” KC Metropolis

“Unmissable theatre” Tulpa Magazine

“Highly engaging” Stage Whispers

“On Collett’s stage, William Shakespeare has truly become “our” bard, the bard of the people and a bard among people – all thanks to our modern playwright’s at times comical, at times deep and moving, but always original and fond rendition of him” Nouse Magazine

“A thoroughly enjoyable evening’s entertainment” Reviews Hub