New festival and theatre event, The East London Shakespeare Festival (ELSF), merges the contemporary culture of this part of the city with the wonderful storytelling of Shakespeare’s plays in outdoor parks and community spaces across East London.

ELSF launches with its inaugural production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, a riotous outdoor production of Shakespeare’s most famous play, combining the wonderful storytelling of the Bard with a flavour of East London culture. Pure, unadulterated escapism, with live music, showstopper numbers in lovely outdoor settings.

As this is not traditional outdoor Shakespeare, it is performed in non-theatrical community spaces, with community at its heart, seeking inspiration from the diverse cultures of East London. ELSF aims to bring communities together in a joyful way following a period of isolation, giving some much-needed cultural respite in ‘safe’ outdoor settings.

A festival feel will be encouraged with gates opening an hour before the show, pre-show workshops, including flower and fairy garland-making and BYO picnics and the audience might even spot the odd festival fairy wandering around!

At each venue, the production will feature a community ensemble of local residents who partner with local performing arts college Big Creative and Leyton Orient Trust to provide placements and offer behind-the-scenes insight, support with creative career options & new skills for their students. There are Pay-What-You-Can performances & school matinees.

The show is directed by Katherine Hare (International Associate Director on Tina the Musical, Resident Director on Bat Out of Hell (Dominion Theatre) and Sunny Afternoon (The Harold Pinter Theatre)), with design by George Alexander.

The show will be performed at the following venues: Higham Hill Hub in Walthamstow from 1-4 July, Lloyd Park in Walthamstow from 8–11 July, Jubilee Park in Leyton from 15–18 July, and Wanstead Park in Redbridge/Epping from 31 July-1 August.

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.