Shakespeare at Bolton Gate Art's New Outdoor Arts Space
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
Sunday 3 August 2025 | Gates 1:30 pm • Show at 2:30 pm
The Manège Outdoor Arts Space, Bolton Gate Farm (ST3 5BD)
Running time: Approx. 1h 45m (including interval)
Much Ado About Nothing and Macbeth
Four Forty Theatre Tour Brings Shakespeare’s Comedy & Tragedy to Staffordshire
A Beloved Comedy and A Fast‐Furious Tragedy. Appearing in Bolton Gate Arts’ picturesque Manège Outdoor Arts Space, Much Ado About Nothing and Macbeth – The Comedy! will be performed back‐to‐back in just forty (ish!) minutes each.
Following a highly successful UK tour, this performance arrives in Stoke‐on‐Trent with Four Forty’s
signature wit and energy. A cast of only four actors delivers a hilariously condensed, high‐octane version of each play, stripping Shakespeare to his essence while amplifying the fun and pace. Audiences can expect:
Much Ado About Nothing – witty banter, romantic entanglements, and a clever twist on gossip and identity.
Macbeth – The Comedy! – a side‐splitting take on ambition, witches, and tragedy, performed with comic timing (“literally side‐splitting!”).
This is an exceptionally special, hilarious, speedy tour of two of Shakespeare’s arguably greatest plays!
Accessibility & Atmosphere
Bolton Gate Arts fosters welcoming and inclusive events, offering relaxed‐theatre options, breakout zones, and access stewardship. Gates open at 1:30 pm to allow early arrival, exploration of the farm, and time to settle before the performance begins at 2:30 pm.
For access requirements or additional support, contact arts@boltongatefarm.co.uk
Tickets & Info
Pay‐what‐you‐decide tiers – £10 Subsidised, £15 Standard, £20 Supporter
All proceeds reinvested into Bolton Gate Arts programming. ‘Pay‐what‐you‐decide’ allows ticket holders to support as they are able.
Tickets can be purchased here:
About Four Forty Theatre
Known for energetic, four‐actor productions of Shakespeare, Four Forty condense and reinterpret classics with pace, humour, and heart. The touring double‐bill has already turned heads across venues in Hornchurch, Bracknell, Stratford‐upon‐Avon, Greenwich and more.
About Bolton Gate Arts
Based at Bolton Gate Farm on the outskirts of Weston Coyney, Stoke-on–Trent, a small family farm may
not be your usual place to find a thriving outdoor arts scene, but Bolton Gate Arts, now into its 4th year,
has programmed 30 theatre shows becoming a vital community asset. Bolton Gate Arts is on a mission to get more people into outdoor theatre, with a brand new outdoor arts space and a unique new ticketing
scheme!
Accessible Ticket Scheme
The company has been working to make touring theatre more accessible and most notable is the unique
‘pay-what-you-decide’ ticket scheme being implemented across all their theatre shows in 2025.
Supporter, standard and subsidised tickets will be available from just £10 with audience members able to
self select the ticket which best suits their budget. “We understand that for many people theatre is
considered a luxury, but to us it’s a necessity” says company director Joe Matty. “The new ticket scheme is something we trialled last year and we were so surprised by the impact. It meant that for those that are
struggling financially they are still able to experience great art at an affordable rate, and lots of people still selected the higher priced tickets to support our work and enable us to pay forward the extra amount
towards the subsidised tickets”.
Details and tickets for all shows and events can be found at: www.boltongatefarm.co.uk/showsandevents
Shakespeare at Bolton Gate Art's New Outdoor Arts Space - Created 30.7.25
