Shakespeare in the Gardens

This summer, Cork Shakespearean Company one of Ireland’s oldest and most beloved theatre companies brings Shakespeare to life at Fota Arboretum.

Shakespeare in the Gardens is an intimate promenade theatre experience set entirely within the grounds of Fota House & Gardens.

Audiences of 25 people at a time move together through the arboretum, discovering six Shakespeare scenes performed in six remarkable spaces from the Victorian Fernery to the breathtaking approach to the Orangerie.

There is no stage. No set. No amplification. The gardens themselves are the production design.

Featuring scenes from Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Measure for Measure and The Merry Wives of Windsor, the programme offers something for everyone dark, funny, romantic, magical and alive in the open air.
The full experience lasts approximately 110 minutes.

What to Expect

Move through the gardens as a group of 25 people, guided by volunteers

Discover a Shakespeare scene in each of six extraordinary natural locations

No seats, no stage, no set – just Shakespeare and the landscape

An experience that lasts approximately 90 minutes from start to finish

Suitable for all ages and all levels of Shakespeare experience