As fans of the Bard know, all the world is a stage – but let’s face it, some bits make better stages than others. The leafy lawns of Central Park are most definitely a fine setting – and for nearly 60 years, they’ve played host to one of New York City’s best-loved summer traditions, the Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park season. Run by the Public Theater, performances take place at the Delacorte, an amphitheatre set by a lake and a whimsically Gothic castle. Though they often feature new plays, this year they’re marking the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death with a programme in tribute. In July and August, Tony Award-winning director Daniel Sullivan will helm a new production of Troilus and Cressida, its tragicomic tale of battles and bawdy passions in the Trojan War unfolding each night at dusk. And, in September, audiences can settle in for a unique retelling of Twelfth Night, its story of gender bending and romantic hijinks given a musical makeover.
More than five million people have watched performances in the 1,800- capacity Delacorte Theatre since it opened in 1962
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