This summer, the acclaimed Australian Shakespeare Company will stage a brand new production of The Merry Wives of Windsor at Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, running from 21 December 2024 – 25 January 2025.
With the city’s Botanic Gardens as a stunning backdrop, audiences will be treated to a unique theatre experience brimming with comedy, intrigue, and classic Shakespearean wit.
Australian Shakespeare Company founder and Artistic Director, Glenn Elston OAM, says, “This fresh, new production of Shakespeare’s suburban comedy, The Merry Wives of Windsor, will offer audiences a wonderful opportunity to explore one of Shakespeare’s most delightful yet often overlooked comedies.”
“Its clever humour and relatable themes of love and deception will resonate with audiences today. I’m thrilled to showcase the play’s wit and charm, reminding everyone why this comic gem deserves the spotlight.”
In this merry romp, the audacious and delusional Sir John Falstaff attempts to woo two married women, Mistress Ford and Mistress Page, only to find himself ensnared in a clever scheme devised by the quick-witted wives. The result? A hilarious series of pranks and plot twists that will leave audiences in stitches.
With its timeless themes and laugh-out-loud mischief, The Merry Wives of Windsor promises an evening of unforgettable fun for all – whether you’re a Shakespeare enthusiast or experiencing the Bard’s work for the first time.
Under the direction of Glenn Elston OAM, an exceptional ensemble will bring humour and charm to this classic story including Peter Houghton as Sir John Falstaff, Jackson McGovern as Frank Ford, Elizabeth Brennan as Mistress Ford, Luke Lennox as George Page and Anna Burgess as Mistress Page. Maddie Somers appears as Anne Page, while Natasha Herbert takes on the role of Mistress Quickly. Callum O’Malley plays Fenton and Pistol, Kevin Hopkins portrays Robert Shallow, Alex Cooper is Abraham Slender, Dion Mills brings Sir Hugh Evans to life, Tony Rives takes on both Doctor Caius and Nym, and Hugh Sexton rounds out the cast as Bardolph.
