was created in 2003 by Amanda Laidler and Andrew Holtom. Their first production was Shakespeare on Love - a light-hearted look at Shakespeare's Lovers, and some of the musical theatre based on them. Shakespeare on Love played in the magical gardens of Hall's Croft in Stratford.
Shakespeare on Love had a company of both adults and young people, reflecting the directors' interest in young and more experienced performers working together. For their 2004 production, they presented Les Misérables Schools Edition, working with a large company of 10 - 19 year olds, and using an orchestra which included a number of young musicians.
In 2005, the group returned to Shakespeare, with a new production by Young Rogues and Vagabonds with a fantastical musical fairytale, If We Shadows ....., written by the directors. In July 2006, the group presented the Dracula Spectacula, in October 2006 Cole Porter’s musical Kiss Me Kate and most recently Honk! and a new piece written for and with the help of our members: Divided Lives. This followed the fortunes of three women from a nightclub in pre-war Berlin, to the fall of the Berlin Wall
The group is ad hoc: there is no annual membership and, whilst there is a core of performers and technical staff who work regularly with us, companies come together for specific and varied works. Future productions will cover a wide variety of work, but always including music.
Our aim is to present work which audiences and our members will enjoy.
"We who live to please, must please to live”
