UNRULY Shakespeare play The Comedy of Errors went down a treat with theatre lovers in the glorious gardens of King’s Ely’s Old Palace.

Around 150 people grabbed their picnic hampers and blankets to enjoy the open-air production by the critically-acclaimed Lord Chamberlain’s Men Theatre Company on Wednesday, June 7th.

The Comedy of Errors follows two pairs of identical twins, Antipholus of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus, and their servants, both named Dromio. When they were babies, the twins and their parents were separated in a shipwreck. However, years later, as one half of the twins search for the other, they unwittingly find themselves in the same city on the same day and chaos ensues.

Founded in 2004, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men Theatre Company is the modern incarnation of Shakespeare’s original troupe of the same name. Performing with an all-male cast, they aim to revive the traditions of Elizabethan theatre and to bring to life the greatest works of drama, as they would first have been performed.

Director of Drama and Theatre at King’s Ely, Nick Huntington, said: “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men returned to King’s Ely for their annual performance in the glorious surroundings of the Old Palace Gardens, and whilst audiences may have had to swallow their disbelief at a ridiculously contrived plot involving two sets of identical twins with identical names, the cast of seven men created the necessary fast-paced, farcical action on their modestly sized stage. A swinging, hinged flat helped to create a multitude of locations and each man was tested on his ability to multi-role, and don yet another costume at lightning speed, much to our great amusement. The weather stayed dry and the audience was able to merrily feast on their picnics throughout the performance whilst sipping the odd glass of bubbly or two.”

To find out more about the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, please visit www.tlcm.co.uk.

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