Tag: Iris Theatre

Much Ado About Nothing (1598/99): William Shakespeare

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Much Ado About Nothing

★★★★

(Iris Theatre, St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, 9 July 2016)

Summer has come to London (although the British weather hasn’t had the memo). These long, light evenings are the cue for the ever-wonderful Iris Theatre to roll out the red carpet for another of their outdoor Shakespeare plays, performed as promenade productions in and around the Actors’ Church in Covent Garden. This year’s show is Much Ado, probably my favourite play, and as a longstanding fan of the company I just couldn’t resist. Moreover, the play has already enjoyed critical acclaim, with four nominations for the Off West End Awards. It was bound to be a good night out so I marshalled my visiting parents and we set off for an evening of Iris’s very special brand of magic.

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Richard III (1592/94): William Shakespeare

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Richard III

★★★★

(Iris Theatre, St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, until 25 July 2014)

This is the third production I’ve seen by Iris Theatre, and they never fail to delight. While in previous years I’ve seen them perform light, summery romantic comedies (A Midsummer Night’s Dream and As You Like It), this was my chance to see them tackle something in a darker key. It’s a very topical choice of play, of course: debate is still raging over whether or not the remains discovered in Leicester last year are indeed those of Richard III. I was intrigued to see what Iris, and their director Daniel Winder, would make of the king.

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As You Like It (1599): William Shakespeare

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As You Like It: William Shakespeare

★★★★

(Iris Theatre, St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, until 4 August 2012)

Once again, in the grounds of St Paul’s Church in the heart of Covent Garden, Iris Theatre have created a little pocket of Arcadia. Last year it was the woods of Athens, for A Midsummer Night’s Dream; this year their unique brand of magic transforms the garden into the Forest of Arden, for As You Like It. As today was one of those rare summer days when London enjoyed glorious sunshine and Mediterranean temperatures, I decided to seize the moment and went off for some immersive Shakespeare.

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595/96): William Shakespeare

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A Midsummer Night's Dream

★★★★½

(Iris Theatre, St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, 2 July – 6 August)

Certain plays are made to be performed outside, and the garden play par excellence is A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  Completely by chance, I spotted the banner for Iris Theatre’s current production in the gardens of St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden.  It sounded like a lovely way to start off the week and, since the weather promised to be fine, I roped in a colleague to come along with me.

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