Best of the Bard in Greytown

From left, Perry Cameron as Cardinal Wolsey, and Miles Eckford as King Henry VIII in Greytown Little Theatre's new production. PHOTO SUPPLIED

The Greytown Little Theatre will be playing host to some of Shakespeare's most famous characters next month.

Audiences will be able to meet characters such as Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth and Cleopatra in a new play that combines some of the bard's best moments.

Producer Patrick Craddock said the play, called That Bastard, I Mean that Bardist, William Shakespeare, brings together a variety of themes from Shakespeare's work.

"In this performance I have been looking at Shakespeare's families, their foibles, their dreams, the frustrations and their need for power."

"I have always wanted to understand the characters in Shakespeare's plays. It's a huge job, long enough to last a life time and then longer."

The production will be comprised of 12 separate scenes from a variety of Shakespeare's plays.

An on-stage "producer" will converse with the actors, drawing out their motivations and background, as the production takes the form of a "play within a play".

It will be an arena performance with the audience sitting around the actors, Mr Craddock said.

"If you can think of a boxing ring -- the actors acting in a square with the audience around them ... it makes the theatre much more exciting.

"If the actors want to say something or do something they can interact with the audience."

The production opens on Thursday 6 November at 8pm for eight performances.

Tickets can be booked at the Village Art Shop, Main St, Greytown. Prices are $10 for students and $20 for adults.

The Greytown Little Theatre is also holding auditions for The Frogs, a comedy due to open during the Greytown Arts Festival next year.

The Frogs is a Greek play that follows the story of Dionysus, the god of wine and debauchery, as he and his servant travel to Hades.

Auditions will be held at the Greytown Little Theatre today from 7.30 -- 9.30pm and October 18 at 2 -- 4pm.