THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY INVITES FAMILIES TO CELEBRATE TWELFTH NIGHT WITH SPECIAL WASSAIL AND PROCESSION IN STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY INVITES FAMILIES TO CELEBRATE TWELFTH NIGHT WITH SPECIAL WASSAIL AND PROCESSION IN STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
The Royal Shakespeare Company is inviting families to celebrate Twelfth Night with choirs from across the Midlands who will sing traditional wassailing songs and carols followed by a winter procession and special ceilidh.
Coinciding with the RSC’s forthcoming production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, the wassail will take place in Stratford-upon-Avon on Saturday, 6 January at 2pm from various locations across the town including the Swan Gardens, Bancroft Terrace and Shakespeare's New Place before meeting to sing together at Shakespeare’s New Place at 4pm.
Roughly translated as ‘be in good health’, wassailing is an English tradition taking place on the Twelfth Night of Christmas, which involves singing to the health of apple trees in the hope that they might yield a good harvest. The free event will include four specially commissioned arrangements from ex-Bellowhead member and choral arranger Paul Sartin and is followed by a special procession to The Other Place, the Company’s studio theatre down the road from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
The procession is followed by a festive ceilidh, similar to a barn dance where a caller explains the moves, at The Other Place with music provided by English folk band Faustus. Hot dogs, mulled cider and non-alcoholic festive punch will also be on offer as part of the ticket price which is £12 or four tickets for £40. The event runs from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.
Families can also enjoy a range of Twelfth Night craft activities throughout the day from 11am to 4pm where they can create decorations which will be placed on the RSC’s apple tree installation at The Other Place.
For more information visit www.rsc.org.uk/wassail
OTHER EVENTS OVER THE FESTIVE BREAK
Families can have fun at The Play’s the Thing, the RSC’s family friendly exhibition in Stratford-upon-Avon. Come along and discover the secrets and stories behind the making of the RSC’s world famous productions. Check out beautifully crafted costumes and props, try on virtual costumes, discover gory stage tricks and how sound effects are made, and experience how RSC productions are staged through interactive hands-on activities. Children go free throughout the Warwickshire school holidays: Saturday, 23 December to Sunday, 7 January 2018 – excluding Sunday, 24 December and Monday, 25 December. For more information visit - www.rsc.org.uk/the-plays-the-thing/about-the-exhibition
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Notes to Editors:
Issue date: 13 October 2017
For further information, please contact RSC Press and Communications Officer Nurinder Mantell, nurinder.mantell@rsc.org.uk 01789 412657/07920 541729.
WASSAIL STARTS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS ACROSS THE TOWN: SWAN GARDENS, BANCROFT TERRACE AND SHAKESPEARE’S NEW PLACE
Saturday, 6 January, starts at 2pm: free
All children must be accompanied by an adult
MASS SINGING AT SHAKESPEARE’S NEW PLACE FOLLOWED BY PROCESSION TO THE OTHER PLACE
Saturday, 6 January, starts at 4pm: free
TWELFTH NIGHT CRAFT ACTIVITIES
Saturday, 6 January, starts at 11am-4pm: free
CEILIDH AT THE OTHER PLACE:
Saturday, 6 January, 6.30pm-9.30pm: £12 or four tickets for £40
Twelfth Night is generously supported by the Twelfth Night Syndicate
The redevelopment of the Swan Wing and The Play's The Thing exhibition are generously supported by the HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND
The Play’s The Thing exhibition is supported by UBS.
The RSC is supported using public funding by Arts Council England