Thanks to CRAFT Management Charitable Trust, the Tauranga Shakespeare Festival returns on Sunday 21st April at The Historic Village.
The Historic Village will host the day-long festival, which includes various Shakespearean and Medieval activities that are free to attend.
The festival was initially launched to reintroduce Shakespeare performances to the community and offer collaborative opportunities.
Creative Director, Harry Oram, says the festival was driven by a desire to fill a cultural and educational gap left by the cessation of traditional summer Shakespeare performances due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“At CRAFT, we recognised a chance to reinvigorate the community’s connection with classical literature and live theatre through a new festival,” says Oram. “It was also a great opportunity to introduce fresh faces and innovative approaches to Shakespearean storytelling.”
“We focus on collaboration and aim to harness and showcase the diverse talent within Tauranga and Western Bay.”
Attendees will be able to see performances of Shakespearean shows, experience music from the Elizabethan period, and witness choreographed fighting for films and theatre. Crafts and activities will also be available to try.
The Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund (TWBCEF) has supported the festival with a $7,500 community event grant to ensure its accessibility to the community with no entry fees.
The fund is a partnership between local funders Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, TECT, Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council with the core purpose of supporting community-led events and those that encourage participation for free or at low-cost.
Alongside the festival being free to attend and showcasing a time period many would not be familiar with, attendees can also join in on competitions for the Most Creative Costume, Best Copy of Shakespeare’s Image and a Monologue Competition with a cash prize!
This year’s festival will also include a partnership with 16th Avenue Theatre to present Macbeth from 15th – 23rdApril.
Festival Details:
What: Tauranga Shakespeare Festival
When: Sunday 21st April 2024
Where: The Historic Village, 159 17th Avenue West, Tauranga South, Tauranga 3143
Timetable
| 10:00 am | Opening Ceremony with Maypole Dancing Art Gallery Opens with Shakespeare Unplugged (Open all day) |
| 10:30 am | Stalls and Market Opens including a variety of Shakespearean and Medieval Stalls, activities, riddles, food and drinks Kids’ Costume Corner |
| 11:00 am | Games on the Green (Skittles and Hobby Horse) New Zealand Stage and Screen Combat School – Archery and Axe Throwing (Additional fee) New Zealand Stage and Screen Combat School Medieval Combat Demonstration |
| 12:00 pm Midday | Poetry Workshop with Jenny Argante at the Village Cinema (Additional fee) Elizabeth Bring-Your-Own Picnic at The Incubator Creative Hub |
| 2:30 pm | Screening of Shakespeare in Love at the Village Cinema |
| 3:30 pm | Monologue Competition at the Amphitheatre (Cash Prize) |
| 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm | Various performances of dance, theatre and music at the Amphitheatre |