Warwick Castle makes for dramatic backdrop for the Bard

The GB Theatre Company, with BBC Radio 4’s The Archers director Jenny Stephens and ITV’s Wycliffe star Jack Sherpherd directing, is bringing its productions of The Tempest and The Taming of the Shrew to the castle grounds from tonight to Sunday August 12.

The cast of 11 actors perform in traditional costume and verse - but David Davies, company director and lead actor, says there are always a few “little winks” given to the audience, with modern references weaved in.

And the personal touches of both diretors do, of course, also have their part to play.

David, who plays Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, said: “Jack said to us that in every single scene of The Tempest, there is some magic, and he’s right.

“So he has brought that in in his own way through the use of masks and puppets and things like that.

“Jenny has looked at The Taming of the Shrew from a woman’s point of view.

“She is not going to have Kate subjected and that point of view is supported in the writing.

“We have a mad-cat romp between the very difficult posh girl and the old drunken rogue. Audiences are enjoying it so far.”

The company are in the middle of a relentless three-month outdoor tour - including dates in Norway and Ireland, taking both productions to each location.

David said: “We are trying to create a group of travelling players in the Shakespearean sense - that group of men and women who jump on the train and jump off the train and get to acting.

“We need actors who really use their voices, bodies and emotions.”

He added: “I have been involved in the company since it began in 2009 and we are very proud of our productions.

“They’re for the people.”

The GB Theatre Company will perform The Tempest on tonight and on Saturday and The Taming of the Shrew tomorrow (Friday) and on Sunday at 7.30pm each evening.

Tickets cost £17.50 in advance or £19.50 on the night (concessions £13.50 and £15.50).

Call 406660 or go online.