The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare – a comedy of young lovers, put-upon servants, fierce outlaws, and a dog with no manners – runs at the Wilmslow theatre from Monday 18th to Saturday 23rd March 2024. To book tickets, visit The Green Room Theatre.
This is an excellent opportunity to see one of Shakespeare’s earliest and rarely performed plays, by a company critically acclaimed for performing open air Shakespeare for the best part of 50 years at Gawsworth Hall, near Macclesfield.
Directors Celia Bonner and Mike Rogerson say: “The play is about love, betrayal and disguise and to add to the fun, we’ve updated things by a fair few centuries, added a few songs, a live band and there’s a bit with a dog! A wooden dog on wheels called Crab.”
Audiences familiar with Shakespeare will enjoy spotting his first mention of ideas he comes back to in later plays – a young woman disguised as a young man (Twelfth Night etc.) a young man who deserts his true love for a while before coming to his senses (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), a group of noble Outlaws (As You Like It), and bossy fathers who object to their children’s choice of partner (pick almost any play!).
The plot of Two Gents sees Proteus, who is head over heels in love with Julia, reluctant to leave Verona. Meanwhile, his best friend, Valentine is intent on improving himself through travel and adventure and leaves for Milan without Proteus.
The two friends are quickly reunited when Proteus is forced to go to the Duke’s court in Milan under his father’s orders. There they both fall deeply in love with the Duke’s daughter, Silvia.
Despite having already promised himself to Julia, Proteus vows to take Silvia for himself. Blinded by his love for Silvia, Proteus sets out to destroy his relationships with Valentine and Julia. Julia arrives in Milan under the disguise of a man named Sebastian to confront Proteus herself.
Using the ploy of disguises, true love prevails and the friends are reconciled.
Photo from left to right: Jamie King (as Valentine), Jess Trimble (as Silvia) and Steve Berrington (as Proteus).
- Support your local theatre: Book your tickets to see The Two Gentlemen of Verona at The Green Room Theatre, Wilmslow.
- The play runs from Monday 18th to 23rd March 2024.
- No Sunday performance. Matinee on Saturday 23rd March 2024.
- Each performance start times: evenings 7:45pm, matinee 2.30pm.
- To book tickets, see printed material or click: The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
- The Saturday morning Box Office will open for personal callers between 11 am and 12 noon on 9th and 16th March.
- Telephone the box office answerphone: 01625 540933.
- Tickets cost £10 for members, £12 full price.
- Following the government’s relaxation of Covid restrictions, we kindly ask you to please not attend the theatre if you feel unwell, have cold-like symptoms, or may be infectious.
- To find out more about The Green Room Theatre, Wilmslow and how you can get involved please email mail@greenroomwilmslow.org.uk.
