West end performance of Shakespeare will be performed at Squerryes Estate in Westerham
Published: 09:00, 28 April 2015
For the first time Shakespeare will be coming to Sevenoaks.
The enduring comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream, is set to be staged against the backdrop of one of Kent's leading private stately homes - Squerryes Court.
The estate, in Westerham, has been home to the Warde family since 1731.
The original proprietor, Mr William Crisp, instructed the building of Squerryes Court in 1681.
To this day, the house remains relatively unchanged. It still contains artwork and original furniture collected by the family between 1747 and 1774.
Set in a specially built all-seated arena at the front of the house, the production will be directed by award-winning actor Ian Hughes with a cast drawn from classical theatre companies.
A range of local foods and a glass of award winning Squerryes wine will be available for guests to enjoy.
The grounds of the estate host three farms, two arable and one dairy and the construction of a new brewery for Westerham is currently under way.
Henry Warde and his four children occupy the home that has been in the family for eight generations. They moved into the building in August 2013.
"The estate has been home to our family since the 1700s, we are the 8th generation Warde and we are delighted to be hosting such a prestigious event," Mr Warde said.
A spokesman for Squerryes said: "There is a kind of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory mystery about the estate as nobody really knows what is inside. I think this summer's production is a great opportunity for people to visit the estate, learn the history behind it and see a fantastic performance."
The production will run from June 18 - June 20.
For info and tickets click here.
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Annabel Rusbridge-Thomas