Why Will? – Half House Farm

One man, one Bard, 20 speeches, 20 circles, 20 questions. Performed outdoors at the C16th Half House Farm in Three Oaks, Hastings, this is a one man show that explores Shakespeare's most famous speeches. Bowler Crab's Artistic Director, Stephen John answers twenty questions, the most prominent being "Why Will?". In an effort to answer why BC are a Shakespeare only company, Stephen presents his case to twenty socially distanced circles with twenty speeches from his eight years of running his Theatre Company. Presented in two 45 minute acts, Stephen performs as characters from Shakespeare's finest works: from Hamlet to Benedick, to Romeo to Bottom, to Caesar to Jaques. Tragedy and comedy lace this charismatic and personal performance as Stephen fights, feasts, frights, fakes and falls about laughing in every effort to share his passion for Shakespeare.

We still don't know what restrictions will be in place for certain this summer but we aren't socially distancing because we have to, we're socially distancing because we want to; we want all our playgoers to feel safe and so a new auditorium layout will be used at Half House Farm. You will be booking a ticket for a circular space rather than the usual per person system. Hay bales will be provided in the circles but your own lawn furniture or picnic blankets are also welcomed. Small circles seating up to two have a 2m diameter; large circles seating up to four have a 3m diameter; all circles are 1.5m distance away from their neighbours. Limited attendance is guaranteed for further reassurance of safety and as such we urge you to book in advance to avoid disappointment.