Shakespeare on the green for the 500th anniversary

So, there we were on the green, watching a theatre group perform Henry V in full view of the building which was already old by the time Shakespeare was born.

Now I have watched Shakespeare’s plays performed at the Old Vic in Stratford as well as  London, caught plenty of amateur performances and watched a riveting version of Henry V at the Royal Exchange, but this was magic.

For a start it was in the open air with the audience just a few feet away from the actors* and it was played just as it might have been in a Tudor theatre, with a mix of audience participation, humour and respect for the story.

It was, just one of the events in the three day celebration for the 500th anniversary of the building on the green which is the Horse & Jockey.

Now I know how hard Emily, the events manager and Peter the owner will have worked to get it all together, and there is still the Victorian day tomorrow, with another round of activities.

At this point I could wander off into a history story, loosely connected with the building or the green but will content myself with the thought that the three days fit nicely with what we do here in Chorlton all year round.  We are after all in the middle of the Arts festival with the film, food and book festivals still to come.

*Sir Robert Cecil’s men

Pictures; from the collection of Andrew Simpson