Wells Theatre Festival is coming to the city in June with performances to be staged in the Bishop's Barn.

The Wells Theatre Festival, supported by patrons Dame Judi Dench and Sir Richard Eyre, will take over the magnificent Bishop's Barn over the weekend of 21-23 June. This will be the first time that the Grade 1 listed, 15th century building has been used for a public event since ownership of the monument was returned to the City of Wells in February 2022.

Along with other venues around Wells the Bishops Barn, also known as The Great Barn, will host this year's Wells Community Theatre production of William Shakespeare's Macbeth.

Wells Theatre Festival's Artistic Director Ros Johnson says: "We are so excited about this year's Festival and especially about returning to the Bishop's Barn, which we first converted into a wonderful theatre space back in 2019. And for the first time the Community Theatre has made a departure from comedy to present Shakespeare's iconic tragedy, Macbeth. As ever our programme of performances offers something for everyone, and we are delighted to be back!"

Lee Housely and Caroline Bruce in rehearsal for Macbeth. Credit: Wells Theatre Festival

Dot. Dot. Dot Theatre Company will present Dot, the Faun and the Elfin Child, in the Bishop's Barn, a fantasy drama about a mother, Dot and her Elfin Child daughter who languish at home alone together, during the long hot summer of the pandemic - until the mysterious appearance of the Faun, a statue from Paris, in their garden.

Instant Wit will return to the festival with another helping of improvised comedy, devised from audience suggestions. Because Instant Wit is live, anything could happen. Instant Wit promises surprises for actors and audiences alike.

Also returning is Dance Theatre with Shed-ache, a comedy slapstick dance show to entertain the whole family.

Award winning actors Ayodele Scott and David Evans, newcomers to the Festival, bring Native Wit, blending drumming, song and physical theatre through which they explore their childhoods in colonial West Africa.

New to the Festival, Kim Hicks brings her one woman show Courtship. Accompanied by music, the piece explores this ongoing theme in Jane Austen's novels and highlights her excellence as a writer of comedy.

Following a successful run at their home theatre, Weston-Super-Mare-based theatre company, Front Room presents The Shaggy Dog Tale. The audience is invited to the pub to watch a show based on local myth and legend with stories of piracy, smuggling and of communities putting up a fight against the powers that be, The Shaggy Dog Tale weaves live music and storytelling and promises a fun filled evening with the audience at the centre of the action.

The Wells Theatre Festival aims to bring world class contemporary theatre to Somerset, taking live theatre performances to those who otherwise might not get the chance to experience them. The festival is committed to providing some free performances for the community and local schools alongside a programme of professional theatre at affordable prices. Dame Judi Dench, renowned theatre and film director, Sir Richard Eyre are delighted to continue as patrons of the Festival.  

Tickets are available from 31 March at  www.wellstheatrefestival.org where you can also find out more information about the Festival programme.