Bard in the open

British Touring Shakespeare Company brings Twelfth Night and Hamlet to Dubai this week

The British Touring Shakespeare Company, the UK's premier international and national touring Shakespeare company, is visiting Dubai for the first time to perform Twelfth Night and Hamlet over four consecutive nights, December 11 to 14, on the lawn at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai.

"CSM is always looking for innovative and exciting events to bring to the region. There is a large audience in Dubai that appreciates theatre and classic events and this is whom we are catering to with Shakespeare," said Hedley Grist, production manager of organisers CSM.

Since the company's inception in 1999, BTS has performed to over 20,000 people, winning critical acclaim with innovative and inspirational productions which breathe new life into the Shakespearean cannon.

The group's work is renowned for simplistic excellence and insight, using period costumes from the Royal Shakespeare Company, the BBC and the Royal National Theatre Company to create beautiful, hilarious and haunting productions.

The company's actors, described by The Scotsman as "a gifted cast who never put a foot wrong", are drawn from the cream of the English professional circuit, and synthesise theatrical techniques drawn from the Royal and London Academies of Dramatic Art, the Ecole Jaques Le Coq in Paris and the Globe Theatre, London.

Miles Lattimer-Gregory founded the company in 1999 while studying for his Master of Fine Art in Staging Shakespeare at Exeter University. BTS has shot to fame over the last three years, leading to the publication of a full page article in the Theatre Review describing British Touring Shakespeare as "A new Shakespearean force to be reckoned with... Some of the best Shakespeare I have ever seen...This company's witty and wonderful work is must-see stuff."

Lattimer-Gregory says interest in the company's touring capability is increasing with enquiries from as far afield as Kyto Japan, Princeton, U.S., Pakistan and Auckland, New Zealand. "We have a very exciting year ahead of us," he says, "and we are the fastest expanding Shakespeare company in the UK.

Thousands of people travel from all over the world to the UK to see and hear Shakespeare performed, but for the many who are unable to travel, British Touring Shakespeare will come to them."

The company will be presenting Twelfth Night, fresh from their Summer Season 2001, and Hamlet, featuring handmade costumes from the Royal Shakespeare Company and BBC Costume Unit, as well as original costumes and set designed by award-winning designer Barbara Capocci, BTS's in-house design consultant.

"Both plays we are bringing to Dubai are true to Shakespeare's text but we as a company are committed to producing fast, furious and funny work, which really brings the script alive. No boring old Shakespeare here!" adds Miles Lattimer-Gregory, who also directs both plays.

Ticket reservations can be made by calling The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, CSM's office, visiting Spinney's outlets or online with csmshows.com. Tickets costing Dhs 175, Dhs 275 and Dhs 375 are inclusive of a buffet. MasterCard holders can also benefit from a special 10 per cent discount on ticket prices.