A THEATRE born at the height of the pandemic to ‘bring a smile to people’s faces’ is celebrating its fifth birthday with a new production of the Bard’s classic comedy ‘A Midsummer’s Night Dream’.
In those five years Aunty Jen Productions has grown from three performances in one venue to 33 performances playing before thousands of people in 23 different venues.
That first show – featuring the same play as now – saw the players perform on the back of an HGV at Studley Sports & Social Club, the audience sitting in socially distanced circles in front of the stage.
Fast forward to 2025 and this latest production is taking place in the grounds of the village’s parish church of St Mary’s by the River Arrow this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, August 3-4.
“When we started everything was focused on Studley and the support we have had from the village has been incredible,” said Jen Rigby who started the company.
“Our aim was to help make people smile and it seems they want to keep on smiling!
“And people still have an appetite to see live theatre, and rather than expecting them to come to us, we take the show to them.”
Such has been the impact of the company that they’ve travelled much of the length of the country performing and staging workshops from Wrexham to Bristol and beyond.
However this latest run will see them staying closer to home with performances planned for Worcester, Coventry and Pershore with theatre workshops for youngsters planned for both Studley and Worcester.
Meanwhile Jen is convinced that St Mary’s Church provides the ideal location for the first performances of the run.
“The vicar, Kate Meirs, jumped at the idea; we’re right on the edge of the Heart of England Forest and there are so many references to ghosts and sprites,” she said.
Not only that but Arden Marches Churches are set to provide tea and cake at the interval and an ice cream van is promised to.
Performances are at 2.30pm and 6.30pm on the Saturday and 2.30pm on the Sunday.
Tickets, priced £10-£12 are available from https://auntyjenproductions.co.uk/ or just turn up on the day. If rain is threatening, a marquee will provide shelter.
