The quirky cycling Shakespeare troupe, the HandleBards, will return to Chelsea Physic Garden this autumn to perform Richard III and Much Ado About Nothing.
On the 1st of September, the foursome will perform Richard III, and Much Ado About Nothing will be performed on the 3rd of September.
For both performances the all-male cast will be accompanied by live music by local musicians.
The shows will be the actors’’ final shows of their 2016 cycling tour, which will also see them perform at Crook Hall and Gardens, Durham, and the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.
About the HandleBards
The HandleBards consist of four actors who cycle between performance locations in the UK and perform when they get there. The troupe carry with them all the necessary set, props and costume as they travel.
The company embarked on its first tour in 2013, which saw the troupe pedalling Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night 967 miles from Glasgow to London.
In 2015, the troupe organised The HandleBards: Secret Shakespeare at Edinburgh Fringe and saw audiences cycle with the actors through Edinburgh to a hidden location where the performance was based.
The HandleBards has since performed shows in India, Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar. This year, the company has also introduced another cycling troupe which is an all-girl cast performing The Taming Of The Shrew and Romeo and Juliet.
About Chelsea Physic Garden
Chelsea Physic Garden is situated in the heart of London and was founded by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London in 1673 so that apprentices could study the medicinal qualities of plants.
It is now home to a living collection of around 5,000 edible, useful, medicinal and historical plants.
This year’s theme for the garden is Captivating Scents: fresh, floral, foetid. By the end of May, there will be scented displays in the garden and groups can download a scent trail to follow when visiting the garden.
For more information and tickets visit www.handlebards.com.
