Est. 1996
Excellent theatre for everyone, everywhere… including the classics!
Commedia dell'Arte street festival:
Summer madness comes to Horndon Feast and Fayre
Following the massive success of our Schoolyard Scenarios and A Christmas Carol events in 2021, we’re embarking on an ambitious project to bring a new festival of theatre to the borough.
As part of a project made possible through the Jubilee Let’s Create Fund and the Royal Opera House Bridge Trailblazer scheme, we’re thrilled to be presenting our very first Commedia dell'Arte street festival – in conjunction with the Horndon Feast and Fayre – On Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th June.
The Complete Commedia Company, alongside students from Woodlands School and Grays Convent High School, will be welcoming all comers to two days of riotous fun – as 16th century Italian comedy is brought to the streets of Horndon on the Hill.
This festival will showcase the amazing work students at both schools have done to bring the art of Commedia dell’Arte to life, having studied this unique theatre style with the Complete Commedia Company over the past year.
But the festival will also provide a stage for the debut performance of our brand new show – A Midsummer Night’s Jubilee – devised especially to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Two mad midsummer days
On Saturday 25th June, Key Stage 3 and 4 students from Woodlands School will perform their own original pieces of Commedia dell'Arte, followed by Key Stage 3 students from Grays Convent High School on Sunday 26th June.
The students’ electric, energetic performances will be staged outdoors, for free, in the car park of the Horndon on the Hill Village Hall – beginning at 12:30pm and running until 3.30pm on both days.
At 7pm on the Saturday evening, we at the Complete Commedia Company will debut our hilarious new show A Midsummer Night's Jubilee – an irreverent take on Shakespeare’s much-loved rom-com.
This performance is also completely free, but booking is essential via Eventbrite:
Bag a seat at this summer’s funniest show
“We can’t wait to bring Commedia to Horndon’s annual street festival,” says our Artistic Director and co-founder, Bernadette Wakeling. “Working with young people in schools is always a delight; they’re so open to the slapstick comedy, the energy, and the masks that make Commedia so special.
“Audiences are in for a treat,” she adds, “and we so look forward to performing for them!”