Hi all, I hope you’re all well? I’m getting my theatre-geek on and will be indulging in some awesome productions. Firstly, Mousetrap at Derby Theatre (more on that in a standalone post),  and a cool mini arts festival.

St Matthew’s Church and Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company have teamed up along with artists and musicians to create a cool festival to mark 400 years this year since the death of William Shakespeare. Flower festival displays have been designed based on Shakespeare’s plays and seven collages have been created to illustrate the plays.

Walter Evans School is contributing to the Flower Festival as well. Chris Scott has kindly agreed to show his painting inspired by last year’s production by Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company of Henry IV part Two. A mosaic has been constructed and an amazingly detailed miniature Tudor kitchen will also be exhibited by dolls’ house crafters Jane and Ian Roxburgh. It opens on Saturday 11 June from 10am-4pm.

A concert at the church on the Saturday at 7.30pm boasts a full programme: actors from Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company will perform spoken pieces that span Shakespeare’s Tragedies, Comedies, Histories, Romances and Sonnets. St Matthew’s Church Choir will sing songs with words by Shakespeare and others as well as choral music he would have heard in church.  Geoff Howell will play organ music from the period and modern day pieces that will set the scene beautifully.

The art and flower festival continues on the Sunday afternoon from 12-4pm and music will be provided by Strictly4Strings String Quartet.

Refreshments will be available to buy throughout the weekend all served by period-costumed volunteers.  It promises to be very special!

All entrance free, donations to Church funds gratefully received.  The Church car park is in Darley Abbey Dr, Darley Abbey, Derby, DE22 1EE.

See you there!

RAxx