We have to announce that due to other commitments Donnacadh O’Briain has had to withdraw as director for this year’s tour. We are pleased that his new project will be a great opportunity for his talent. We wish him well and look forward to working with him in the future.

We are thrilled to announce that our new director is the well known actor and director, Jack Shepherd. Jack is probably best known for his role as Superintendent Wycliffe in the Police series of that name, this is currently re-running on ITV3. He has a great love of Shakespeare and has directed a number of productions both at the Royal National Theatre and The Globe. We are so pleased that Jack has decided to work with us this year directing The Tempest.

We are delighted to announce that the directors for the 2012 tour are, Jenny Stephens of Birmingham Rep and Bristol Old Vic and who is one of the Directors of The Archers. Jenny was responsible for the amazing production of The Merry Wives of Windsor for GB Theatre Company in 2010. In 2012 she will be directing an equally amazing production of The Taming of the Shrew and says she can’t wait to get this production on its feet.

We are delighted to announce our 2012 shows will be The Tempest and The Taming of the Shrew. We are currently in talks with several venues around the UK and overseas and will announce the tour details here early in the New Year. Please contact us if you have a venue or can suggest a suitable location.

We would like to thank Leon Steele for his wonderful photography.

GB Theatre Company were delighted to have Dame Vera Lynn in the audience for the final performance of Romeo and Juliet at Arundel Castle on Saturday 27th August. Here she is with Company Manager, David Davies before he gave his speech for the Good Housekeeping Dinner before the show. According to sources, she enjoyed the show very much and was delighted to acknowledge the approval of the audience who gave her a mighty applause when it was announced that she was in the audience. What a Legend! We wish her all the best and hope to ‘meet again’.

Excellent review by Gary Shipton in the West Sussex Gazette:

We are delighted that Actor/Musician Andy Mathys will join us and play violin for us at Arundel Castle. Audiences will remember his hilarious Slender and whimsical Amiens from last years productions of Merry Wives of Windsor and As You Like It. Since last season with GB, Andy has been very fortunate to be touring internationally playing Freddy in a production of Pygmalion, visiting 25 countries, and is delighted to return to GB for Arundel! He remembers last season fondly and is pleased to be back at such an excellent venue.

Our Company Manager David Davies will continue in the role of Mercutio after taking it over in London. He relishes the opportunity to swash buckle at Arundel. Martin Hutchinson proves to be very humorous in the role of Sir Andrew in Twelfth Night which he took over in London.

Wednesday sees the opening of our first shows in the heart of London (Victoria Embankment Gardens - Wednesday 3rd to Saturday 6th August 2011). Tickets are on sale at Charing Cross Theatre Box Office, telephone 0207 478 0170 or book online at www.charingcrosstheatre.co.uk. Tickets are £18 or £12 for concessions (no concessions on friday or saturday nights). Tickets will also be available on the night at the venue.

Our tour finishes at the spectacular Arundel Castle (Thursday 25th, Friday 26th & Saturday 27th August) in West Sussex. Tickets are £25 or £15 for under 16′s, available at the Arundel Castle Ticket Office (10am-4pm) inside Mill Road Gate, by telephone 01903 882173 (9am-5pm) or book online.

Last night was our opening night of Romeo and Juliet in Sheffield’s Peace Gardens. Thank you to the appreciative audience and to those of you still deciding, you can pay on the door for tonight’s performance of Twelfth Night or saturday’s Romeo & Juliet. Please remember to bring warm clothing for later in the evening.

Photos: Chris Hopkins. Additional photos are on the Gallery page.