Posted: Wed 23rd Mar 2016

Top Secret Theatre In Flint

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Mar 23rd, 2016

People in and around Flint should keep their eyes and ears wide open over Easter Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday… in and around Flint, say… in the Castle… or on Flint High Street… or maybe even in a well-known Flint supermarket around 1.30pm, 2.30pm or 3.30pm…. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

2016 marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. And this Easter Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service responsible for the protection and conservation of a number of monuments, including Flint Castle, and Flintshire County Council’s Arts, Culture and Events Service are sponsoring some rather unusual and exciting events to celebrate the Bard’s special connection to Flint Castle. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Not everyone knows that in Shakespeare’s great play Richard II, the King submits to Henry Bolingbroke’s rebel army at Flint Castle. Richard is then marched to London where he abdicates and is subsequently murdered, paving the way for Bolingbroke to become the next King – Henry IV. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Kevin Jones, Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Flintshire County Council is pleased to be involved in this exciting partnership event aimed at bringing this iconic play and its link with Flint Castle to life for local audiences and visitors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The connection between Flint and Shakespeare should be highlighted and promoted widely in an aim to attract more visitors to the area, and during Wales’ Year of Adventure there’s no better time to bring dramatic performances and engaging events to our towns and historic sites.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Janys Chambers, a BAFTA-nominated writer and director of the event, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‘We don’t want to give the game away too much, but there is currently a great vogue for pop-up theatre, and on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, it may well be worth spending your afternoons in and around Flint, say… in the Castle… or on Flint High Street… or maybe even in a well-known Flint supermarket around 1.30pm, 2.30pm or 3.30pm…. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

You never know what colourful characters from history might suddenly appear… or what they might do!’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The secret theatricals may involve actor Richard Hand (Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks) popular Welsh actor Richard Shackley (Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Theatr Iolo) and Jessica Loren, a new young actress. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Janys added: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‘We think our surprise events will be a lot of fun both for local people and for visitors, while celebrating both an iconic Welsh site and our greatest ever playwright.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​



Spotted something? Got a story? Email News@News.Wales



More from Flintshire Council

Plans Submitted for Ten New Industrial Units in Shotton

Flintshire Council

Denbighshire to Invest £2m in New £12m Archive Building in Mold

Flintshire Council

Former Flintshire Council Deputy Leader Suspended for Sending Sexualised Messages to Vulnerable Resident

Flintshire Council

Plans Approved to Rebuild Incomplete Starbucks in Flintshire

Flintshire Council

Abakhan fabric store in Flintshire to hold car boot sales in bid to boost footfall

Flintshire Council

Urgent meeting planned to discuss support for children in Flintshire during holidays

Flintshire Council

Latest from News.Wales

Pembroke dock’s anchorage day centre to close on November 1

Pembrokeshire Council

Outrage as Vale of Glamorgan Council Votes to Cut Face-to-Face Meetings

Vale of Glamorgan Council

Schools Urged to Recognise Pupils’ Caring Responsibilities, says Retired Headteacher

Torfaen Council

Councillors May Have to Defend Decision on Refusal of Large Housing Development

Swansea Council

Amendments to Holiday Chalet Scheme Expected to Get Approval from Pembrokeshire Planners

Pembrokeshire Council

Nesting Seagulls Cost the NHS £100,000 in Delays for Demolition Work

Torfaen Council