Shakespearean farmyard frolics: Temple Newsam like you’ve never seen it before

Sent on behalf of Front Room Productions

Front Room Productions have received Arts Council funding to bring their barmy, farmyard adaptation of Twelfth Night to audiences in Leeds at Temple Newsam’s Home Farm from 1st-12th August.

This summer will see the return of Front Room Productions’ bite-sized, approachable take on Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night to audiences in Leeds, featuring live music and placed into to a fun farmyard setting. Having previewed the production last year at Dunstarn Farm in Adel, this year’s show will be bigger and better than ever before, funded by Arts Council England and delivered in partnership with Temple Newsam Estate.

The production will transport Shakespeare’s best-loved comedy to modern-day rural Yorkshire, leading audiences through the cobbled yards and traditional buildings of Home Farm, taking inspiration from its location. Viola and Sebastian will be framed as city-slicker siblings, Orsino as a local farming tycoon, Olivia an ill-suited country girl, and Sir Andrew Auguecheek a try-hard hipster.

The show will be delivered in the original tongue, but unearth the modern day idiosyncrasies in Shakespeare’s language, intending to make the Bard accessible to contemporary audiences.

The action will be underscored by live musical arrangements of familiar pop hits – with a Twelfth Night twist to the lyrics – to bring the show bang up to date, and keep audiences on track. Front Room’s Creative Producer, Alice Barber, notes the broad appeal of the adaptation: “There really is something for everyone – an exciting environment and slapstick humour to keep the kids entertained, the purity of the original text for Shakespeare buffs, and fast-paced action combined with live music to break up the text for those who are totally new to the experience.”

Twelfth Night follows Front Room Productions’ ambitious spring production Hurry Up, Jess, a one-woman show that toured to the bedrooms of fifteen local people throughout West Yorkshire. The project will mark the first time the company has been granted Arts Council funding to deliver their unique, regional brand of site-specific theatre.

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for Environment and Active Lifestyles said:

“Temple Newsam Estate is a wonderful venue for this exciting and unique production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. If you are able to attend I recommend you do; it will be a great opportunity to spend a lovely summers evening outside and to fully immerse yourself in the estate’s beautiful buildings and grounds. I’m confident the show will be a huge success.”

Olivia Race, Artistic Director of Front Room Productions, said:

“We wanted to remove staid preconceptions around Shakespeare, and create a contemporary yet faithful production with a real Yorkshire slant – a show that feels as though it could only happen now, and only happen in Leeds.

“We are absolutely delighted to have received support from the Arts Council, and to be working with Temple Newsam Estate to bring this exciting project to audiences in East Leeds.”

Notes to the editor/listings information:

For further information, images and interview availability please contact Front Room Productions on frontroomproductions2015@gmail.com / call Olivia Race (07791 384055) or Alice Barber (07964 606368).

Further images to download here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsm5r46PY

Venue: Home Farm, Temple Newsam Estate, Temple Newsam Road, Leeds, LS15 0BG

Dates: 1st – 12th August

Performances: 7pm

Running time: 2h (inc. 15 minute interval)

Ticket prices: Standard £12 / Concessions £10

Book online: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/frontroomproductions

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/206039900194409/