A touch of Shakespeare - The Wilde Community Theatre Company

A Shakespearean experience is promised when a play is staged outdoors next month. 

Directors from The Wilde Community Theatre Company are busy preparing the Italian Gardens at South Hill Park, before The Tempest is performed on July 15 - 26. 

The garden steps will be used to create a split level stage, so that directors can mimic the Globe Theatre by having a low stage and a balcony. 

Director Tom Neill also is hoping that the water fountain in the garden will be turned on to create a magical setting. 

He said: "The Tempest is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays from the point of view it has a little bit of everything." 

The show will tell the famous story of magician Prospero, and his daughter, Miranda, who have been stranded for twelve years on an island after Prospero's jealous brother Antonio deposed him and set him adrift with the then three-year-old Miranda.

The costumes have been designed by Fiona Davis, and Tom said: "We took an inspiration from Dolce and Gabbana's winter collection, 2010." 

Tom added: "It is a special choice of show as creative as shows get. Romeo and Juliet and plays like A Midsummers Night's Dream are often staged outside, but the Tempest rarely gets done outdoors." 

Tom recently directed The Importance of Being Oscar, which was put together to celebrate South Hill Park's 25th anniversary.