Cycling theatre troupe HandleBards are currently on their longest tour of the country ever, and Walthamstow is on their route
The HandleBards began with a sense of adventure, a love of Shakespeare and a nifty little pun.
Since four fearless friends pedalled Twelfth Night to twenty UK venues in 2013, thirteen years of epic outdoor tours commenced, with performances in ancient castles, beautiful gardens, stately homes and community spaces spanning the UK and abroad.
Over the years, the company has grown to become an internationally renowned theatre company, bringing a charmingly chaotic brand of Shakespeare to audiences all over the globe.
Pedalling from venue to venue with all of their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes, this summer, the troupe are making HandleBards history by embarking on their longest cycle ever, pedalling 1,800 miles, including 85,000km of hill climbing!
And now they’re ready to entertain Walthamstow with the troupe performing at Blackhorse Workshop in Sutherland Road Path for a fantastically funny bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It on Friday 11th September.
So, what is As You Like It about? Well, Rosalind and her cousin Celia flee to the Forest of Arden, where they bump into Rosalind’s love interest, Orlando.
However, Rosalind is disguised as a young man. Add some local shepherds, and the stage is set for a wild ride of wooing, mistaken identity and the odd wrestling match.
Making this show accessible and welcoming to all audiences is a huge priority for The HandleBards team. This year, they have been working with Extant, a theatre company that makes work with visually impaired artists and for visually impaired audiences.
With their assistance the show integrates audio description and accessible gags and jokes for visually impaired audiences, without having to carry audio description tech or change the Shakespearean language. As well as creating a bespoke Touch Tour, which will be available on designated tour dates.
Book tickets here
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