Dream on the Green: the North's answer to Stonehenge
Sprites will be emerging from the early morning dew on this year’s Summer Solstice in Chester, as part of a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
There will be the chance to experience the thrill of outdoor theatre at Abbey Green Chester Cathedral as well as the rising of the Midsummer Sun, with a performance starting at 2.30am on Thursday June 21 which forms part of the St.Werburgh Festival. The production, which is being put on by the St.Werburgh Players, is being billed as the Northwest’s answer to Stonehenge and spectators are being urged to watch the performance then get some sleep, before returning to welcome the St.Werburgh pilgrims back to Chester Cathedral. The play will also be performed at Abbey Green on Tuesday June 19 at 7.30pm.
The St Werburgh Players will be directed by Alan Rothwell, who played Ken Barlow’s brother David in Coronation Street in the 1960’s. Alan, who will also play Egeus, Hermia’s father in the production, has also appeared in Brookside and more recently with Johnny Vegas in Dead Man Weds.
The St.Werburgh Pilgrimage reaches its climax on June 17 to 21. The Monks will walk 70 miles from Hanbury in Staffordshire to Chester Cathedral, based on the Translation of St.Werbugh’s Relics over the same route 1,100 years ago in 907.
David Pickering, AKA Cedric the Conversus, said:
“The staging of A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be a fantastic event on the early morning of day four of our pilgrimage from Staffordshire to Chester. What could be more appropriate than to see Shakespeare’s play emerging from the shadows of our great, ancient Cathedral on the Summer Solstice. I look forward to a number of people walking the whole route from Staffordshire to Chester with myself and the rest of the Monks. We hope for a significant number of people and children to walk the last five miles into Chester to a reception at the Cathedral.”
David has not been preparing for a part in Shakespeare’s play. His beard has become established after he decided not to shave from February 3, which is St. Werburgh’s Feast Day, to June 21, which is St. Werburgh Saints Day, commemorating the Translation of the Relics from Hanbury to Chester Cathedral.
During this time David Pickering has adopted the name of “Cedric the Conversus”; Cedric was the name of a character in Episode 11 of the Chester Historical Pageant 1937. Conversus is a bearded trainee monk.
Tickets for A Midsummer Night’s Dream on June 19 at 7.30pm and June 21 at 2.30am cost £7.50 (Concessions: £5) from the Racecourse Box Office on 01244 304618.
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Notes
Spectators are advised to bring an umbrella in the event of rain. Cancellation will only occur in extreme weather conditions. Seating is not provided and spectators are recommended to bring a garden chair or rug to sit on. No pets, garden flares or barbecues are allowed and mobile phones are requested to be switched off during the performance. Any remaining tickets will be available at the Cathedral one hour before the performance.
EVENTS ON JUNE 21:
The pilgrims will arrive in Christ Town, Christleton on the canal towpath at 2pm on June 21 and walk the last mile to be welcomed by Vikings and a Roman guard changing by the Newgate at 3pm.
At 3.30pm the pilgrims will walk up Bridge Street, Eastgate Street and St.Werburgh Street to the Town Hall Square where they will be met by more than 200 pupils from schools including Upton High, Dorin Park, Woodfield Primary, Newton Primary, Acresfield Primary, Mill View Primary and St. Clare’s Primary.
At 4pm, the Lord Mayor of Chester Cllr Jim Latham will receive the Relics of St.Werburgh and the Lord Mayor, pilgrims, children and congregation will enter the Cathedral, where there will be a Festival Service to celebrate the arrival of the Relics back to their rightful home. The Service will start at 4.45pm and The Lord Mayor of Chester will present the Relics to the Dean of Chester Prof Gordon McPhate.
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