Bard in the Yard 2025
24th Aug 2025 - 25th Aug 2025 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
An Ilkley Playhouse Fringe Production
Enjoy this collaborative pop-up theatre in one of Ilkley’s most charming open-air locations for Bard in the Yard ’25 – the sixth year of this outstanding event!
The Ilkley Playhouse troupe will perform two shortened versions of Shakespeare’s plays, played in minimalist style, letting the words speak for themselves. There are two performances in the Ilkley Manor House courtyard on Sunday, 24 August and Bank Holiday Monday, 25 August, starting at 2pm and ending around 4pm. There will be a 20-minute interval, and timings are approximate.
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Directed by Dick Hebbert
After last year’s Richard III, it’s back to tragedy for Bard ’25 with the story of two of history’s greatest lovers, Antony and Cleopatra.
Mark Antony, catapulted to power as part of a triumvirate after having ruthlessly hunted down the murderers of Julius Caesar, has fallen into decadent indolence in Egypt under the spell of the country’s beautiful queen, Cleopatra. But rebellion is fermenting back in Rome and Antony realises that he will have to return home. Once there he is persuaded for diplomatic reasons to marry Octavia, the sister of Octavius Caesar – when she hears this, Cleopatra is devastated.
Meanwhile, peace negotiations fail, and despite his reluctance to go to war, Antony must lead the Romans against Pompey’s rebels – but he just can’t get Cleopatra off his mind…
Ancient history on an epic scale – swords, sandals, power, glory and… asps.
“…age shall not wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety…”
AS YOU LIKE IT
Directed by Andrew Leggott
After torrid love in Egypt, it’s pastoral love in the forest of Arden in this Shakespearian favourite. The play includes one of the Bard’s most famous speeches, commencing “All the world’s a stage…” and detailing the seven ages of man.
It also marks the height of the Bard’s gender-twisting. In his time, the heroine Rosalind would have been played by a boy, who then dresses as a man. In the forest, she, in turn, impersonates herself as a woman. Confused? Consider the actor!
Ticket Information
Tickets are £8 for general admission, and £5 for students (please bring ID). You can purchase tickets online via TicketTailor or in person at the Box Office on weekends when Ilkley Manor House is open.
Click here to buy tickets for the 23 August performance at Ilkley Playhouse.
Click here to buy tickets for the 24 or 25 August performance at Ilkley Manor House.
This event sells out very quickly, and so we recommend buying tickets in advance!
Accessibility Information
This event will take place outside in the Ilkley Manor House courtyard. There are several benches which seat up to five people, boxes, and chairs. The Castle Yard area is cobbled and so can be uneven in places. In the case of inclement weather, the performance will relocate to Ilkley Playhouse and take place indoors.
