Public Shows: Keeping Shakespeare Accessible

The Barden Party was created to solve two problems. A bunch of us actors had just lost our jobs due to COVID-related venue closures and show cancellations in 2021.

That was problem number one.

Problem number two was that people all across New Zealand were desperately looking for excuses to reconnect, laugh, and share joy with their loved ones.

Creating a COVID-safe, traveling Shakespeare show that could be enjoyed by friends and family in the comfort of their own homes, regardless of their age or level of experience with Shakespeare? We call that hitting two birds with one stone.

We also love introducing new audiences to the wonderful works of Shakespeare. We’ve found that one of the best ways to do that is to perform shows in public venues wherever we go, open to members of the local community. We try to keep these shows as accessible as possible, and it’s a great opportunity for families and individuals alike to get a taste for The Bard.

On our New Zealand tour, this gave us the opportunity to perform for plenty of families with small children. We quickly learned that there are few better feelings than when a child who’s still learning to read can sit, watch, and fully engage with a performance of a play that’s over 400 years old!

We’re taking this practice with us on our US tour, with public shows scheduled in Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and LA. You can see our public shows list for more information about each event, and sign up to be notified when new public shows are announced in your area.

If you’d like to organise a show (private or public) in the LA area from July 27th to July 30th, get in touch!

Hopefully, we’ll have the pleasure of performing for you in a park, theatre, café, town hall, museum, or historical home in the not-too-distant future!