If you’re a lover of Shakespeare, then this upcoming festival is for you.
With ten days of celebrating the historic writer, the York International Shakespeare Festival returns from Thursday 18 to Sunday 28 April 2024.
Now in it’s sixth year, the annual festival will once again be bringing the Bard to York in a variety of ways – with shows, exhibitions, lectures and workshops.
2024 marks the first year of a three year sponsorship between the festival and York St John University, meaning that a lot of events will take place in university’s new Creative Centre Auditorium.
Other festival partners include York Theatre Royal, York Explore Central Library, York Shakespeare Project, Grand Opera House York, Theatre@41, Riding Lights Theatre Company, and Bluebird Bakery.
This year, the York International Shakespeare Festival will feature two world premieres from Italy and France, a powerhouse solo show all the way from the United States, and presentations from Bulgaria to Romania.
Check out our guide below to six events you don’t want to miss.
Festival director, Philip Parr, said, “In our fast-changing world, the plays of Shakespeare provide a shared body of work, which explores essential values, and which is capable of infinite reinvention. They create a space in which we can exchange ideas, explore our differences, and find our common ground.
“We’re excited to be creating such a space in York.”
To see the full programme of events for the festival, visit the York International Shakespeare Festival website.
Six highlights
Hoglets Theatre presents Spooky Shakespeare Suitcase Theatre
Hags, hauntings, hobgoblins and more emerge from the spooky suitcase owned by Lady Macbeth (Dotty to her friends). These spectres from performances past need to retell their stories before they can find peace in the literary afterlife. But are they friends or will we need to be vanquished back into the supernatural suitcase?
Join Hoglets Theatre for a funny, energetic and unique children’s theatre experience; a world of hand-made puppets, music and storytelling, all performed from a single suitcase.
- Marriot Room, York Explore, York, YO1 7DS
- Sun 21 Apr
- 2pm
- £5
- Book tickets
Shakespeare in European Communities
Join us for a series of talks about international community projects and an evening concert, with presentations of Shakespeare productions developed with communities in Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, and York.
- Creative Centre Recital Room, York St John University, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York YO31 7EX
- Sun 21 Apr
- 2-6pm
- Free to attend – please book a ticket in advance
- Book tickets
Shakespeare Scratch Night
Local artists bring their works to life for the first time in 15-minute slots, join us for an experience on stage to meet new people, support our creative community, and enjoy our pop-up bar at special Scratch Night prices. Performances include a feminist exploration of the character of Viola in Twelfth Night, how Macbeth might have played out differently, and Titus Andronicus with a rewriting of Lavina’s characters.
- Grand Opera House, Cumberland Street, York YO1 9SW
- Tue 23 Apr
- 6:30pm
- £6
- Book tickets
The Taming of the Shrew
York Shakespeare Project stage Shakespeare’s controversial battle of the sexes The Taming of the Shrew with a 70s twist. As they emerge from the post WW2 greyness, the baby boomers are growing up, primed and ready to do their own thing. A psychedelic world is opening up, promising peace, love and equality. Kate was born, born to be wild. She wants a voice of her own. The Times They Are a’ Changin’ and the old order is dead. Or is it?
- Theatre@41, 41 Monkgate, York, YO31 7PB
- Tue 23 – Sat 27 Apr
- 7:30pm, 2:30pm Sat matinee
- From £12
- Book tickets
Becoming Othello: A Black Girl’s Journey
From her ancestral lineage to her arrival at a metaphorical crossroad, Debra Ann Byrd presents a tour-de-force journey of her living memoir in Becoming Othello: A Black Girl’s Journey. Interspersed with verses from Othello and dynamic song and speeches, Byrd bares her soul in this vulnerable, personal, and resonant story of perseverance, discovery, and unconditional love.
- Creative Centre Auditorium, York St John University, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York YO31 7EX
- Wed 24 – Thu 25 Apr
- 7:30pm (Wed), 11:30am (Thu)
- From £5.20
- Book tickets
Twelfth Night
Iconic touring theatre company Footsbarn Theatre will premiere its brand new production – and world premiere – of Shakespeare’s bittersweet comedy Twelfth Night at the York International Shakespeare Festival. It will be the first full Shakespeare production performed by Footsbarn Theatre in the UK in over 15 years.
- Creative Centre Auditorium, York St John University, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York YO31 7EX
- Sat 27 – Sun 28 Apr
- 7:30pm (Sat), 2pm (Sun)
- From £5
- Book tickets