Shakespeare open airat the Manor Barn

Bexhill Amateur Theatrical Society (BATS) are hoping for a week of fair weather as they bring Shakespeare’s, The Comedy Of Errors to Bexhill Manor Gardens for 6 open air performances, July 21- 26 at 7.30pm.
Balthasar (Keith Bird), Angelo (Jack Pierce), and Ephesus (Sean Coughlin) SUS-140307-160232001Balthasar (Keith Bird), Angelo (Jack Pierce), and Ephesus (Sean Coughlin) SUS-140307-160232001
Balthasar (Keith Bird), Angelo (Jack Pierce), and Ephesus (Sean Coughlin) SUS-140307-160232001

Publicity Officer Peter Bradbury said it’s been 21 years since BATS last performed The Comedy of Errors and says he doesn’t know why they’ve taken so long for them to do it again. “It’s pure farce and great fun, performed in traditional costume. And what’s more, it’s the shortest of all Shakespeare’s plays - less than half the length of Hamlet! All the action takes place over 24 hours.”

Helen Pierce directs this comedy which, in true Shakespeare style of cross-purposes and mistaken identities, centres round two pairs of identical twins, each pair separated as babies when a ship is split in half in a storm.

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Peter said: “The new-formed twosomes, one from each pair, head off in different directions and live many miles apart – and the chaos starts twenty-odd years later when all four twins are found in the same place.

“The twins are constantly mistaken for each other as even their nearest and dearest can’t tell them apart, and it’s all compounded by each pair sharing the same name.

“All is under the watchful eye of the Duke of Ephesus as wives, parents, merchants and a courtesan are by turns mystified and outraged by the many misunderstandings.

“Does all turn out right? Come to the show and find out.”

A mix of long-standing and new BATS performers appear in this Shakespearean mayhem set in the enchanting Manor Barn surroundings.

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Seating is provided and interval refreshments are available. The audience is invited to bring picnics to eat before the show.

Tickets cost £12 and £5 for under-18s. There’s £1 off each ticket when booking in advance at Destination, Sackville Road, Bexhill (01424 225722) or online at www.the-bats.co.uk

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