Plans for Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre, being replicated at Blenheim Palace this summer, have been announced.

The 13-sided Elizabethan-style playhouse, complete with an Elizabethan village, will be constructed over a three week period, aiming to open in July.

Inspired by the famous London Rose Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre will house an audience of 900, with 560 seated on three tiered balconies around an open-roofed courtyard with standing room for 340 ‘groundlings’.

Located within a Shakespearean village, it will feature: ‘wagon’ performances of Elizabethan-style entertainment, including comic mini-plays, speeches and medieval musicians.

Theatre-goers can also enjoy, local food and drink in the oak-framed and reed-thatched Bear Arms pub, authentic farmyard memorabilia and a plentiful seating area, to  make the experience as realistic as possible.

  • The full dramatic line-up has also been announced. Visitors can watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet  as well as Richard III, from July 8 – 7 September 7.

The project was inspired by a similar undertaking in York last year.

Dominic Hare, Chief Executive of Blenheim Palace, said “When I visited Shakespeare's Rose Theatre in York last summer I was absolutely blown away, not only by the quality of the whole event, even down to the vintage carts and wagons, but by the extraordinary experience of seeing Shakespeare performed in such an intimate setting.  It created the most astonishing connection between audience and actors, and produced some truly spine-tingling moments. 

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“I immediately thought it would be the ideal summer event for Blenheim Palace and I am immensely excited at the prospect of bringing these outstanding Shakespeare productions, as well as the Elizabethan experience, to such a stunning setting. We believe that Shakespeare Rose Theatre will bring many more visitors to the area for everyone’s benefit as well as being a marvellous cultural experience for local people.”

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The project will be co-presented by Raymond Gubbay Ltd, who ran the popular ‘Christmas at Blenheim Palace’ illuminated trail and Cinderella experience.

blenheimpalace.com