• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides

NEWS / Bike based HandleBards announce Macbeth tour

June 3, 2021 by Tom Bailey Leave a Comment

Cycling from theatre to farm, from castle to park, The HandleBards’ all-female company are touring their irreverent Macbeth across the UK this summer. The most environmentally friendly Shakespearean theatre company there is, and naturally one of the most Covid-safe, are packing The Scottish Play onto their bikes and taking it to outdoor venues. To ensure good sight lines for a socially distanced audience, the company are using a bespoke wooden stage with bicycle powered mechanisms, which travels with them in an electric van, in order to keep their emissions as low as possible. Forget the tears and tragedy – this is a frantic, delirious, full-of-beans, bike-powered farce!

The HandleBards sister company Slapstick Picnic will also be touring with a two-person The Importance of Being Earnest from 26th June.

Macbeth director Emma Sampson said, “It’s great to get back into the rehearsal room with the HandleBards. Working with them is always the most fun job of my calendar year and the all-female cast has been a delight to direct. They are truly three of the funniest women I have ever met in my life.”

The HandleBards began with a sense of adventure, a love of Shakespeare and a nifty little pun. Since four fearless friends (Callum Brodie, Callum Cheatle, Tom Dixon and Paul Moss) pedalled Twelfth Night to twenty UK venues in 2013, the company has grown to become an internationally renowned theatre company, bringing a uniquely irreverent brand of Shakespeare to audiences all over the globe. The HandleBards travel by bike because they care about the planet and want to promote sustainability and healthy living. In 2014, they won the Edinburgh Fringe Sustainable Practice Award. They were nominated again in 2015, and in 2016 were nominated for The Stage’s inaugural Sustainability Award.

The HandleBards share actors and creatives with new sister company Slapstick Picnic including theatre director Nel Crouch (RSC, Young Vic), using their experience of outdoor theatre and adapting Shakespeare to produce classic tales with an untraditional twist.

HandleBards will tour the UK 4 June – 19 September, for more info and to book please see their website www.handlebards.com

Author: Tom BaileyTom is a theatre maker and writer based in London, England. He covers news and interviews for Theatre Bubble.
T: Twitter F: Facebook

Filed Under: Featured, News Tagged With: cycling theatre, HandleBards, macbeth, slapstick picnic, uk touring

Join the discussion Cancel reply

INTERVIEW / Daniel Hoffmann-Gill on The Great Almighty Gill

We spoke to Daniel Hoffmann-Gill about his autobiographical performance of The Great Almighty Gill that’s heading to the Edinburgh Fringe [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Kati Raatikainen on Kvartetto

We spoke to choreographer Kati Raatikainen about her upcoming performance of Kvartetto at the Edinburgh Fringe as part of the [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Harry Butler on Changing the Sheets

We spoke to writer and performer Harry Butler about his upcoming performance of Changing the Sheets, presented by The Playground [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Jamaal Burkmar on DONUTS

We spoke to choreographer Jaamal Burkmar about Extended Play’s upcoming performance of DONUTS at the Edinburgh Fringe, presented by The [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Heather Milsted tells us about her show Period Dramas

We spoke to actor and writer Heather Milsted about her upcoming show, Period Dramas, that’s heading to the Edinburgh Fringe [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • Katy Owen: LAMDA Audition (First Round)
  • The Threepenny Opera at the National Theatre
  • Joe Strickland on why they will be keeping things digital
  • A Streetcar Named Desire- A cry of pain- Young Vic
  • Does Small to Mid Scale Theatre Touring Actually Work?
  • Katy Owen: Auditioning for Oxford School of Drama
  • Sarah Bodalbhai on Escape from Planet Trash
  • Writing the Perfect Press Release
  • Tom Bailey
    Editor

  • June 3rd, 2021
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • FacebookTweet1LinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2022 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!