Shakespeare in the open air is as much a part of the Bristol summer as queues on the M32, queues on the Portway and queues in the centre. This year’s festival features open air performances in more locations than ever, mostly in verdant and beautiful surroundings but also in a theatre above a pub.

The Bristol Shakespeare Festival is a not for profit organisation dedicated to bringing the freshest, most exciting productions of Shakespeare’s plays to some of Bristol’s most beautiful and unusual spaces every summer.

A festival spokesman said: “We are passionate about bringing Shakespeare’s timeless stories to life in ways which are accessible to and enjoyable for a new generation of audiences.

“The festival plays host to a wide range of theatre companies from across the UK and each year transforms the beautiful, historic city of Bristol with an exciting and diverse programme of open-air and indoor performances.

“From the stunning sixteenth century sunken gardens of Ashton Court and the family fun of Bristol Zoo to the secluded Brandon Hill Bowling Green, spectacular surroundings of the Blaise Castle Estate, and more modern, urban spaces such as the Amphitheatre at Boiling Wells, the Alma Vale Pub Theatre and the Bristol Folk House amongst others.

“The Bristol Shakespeare Festival invites you to enjoy fantastic theatre in the beautiful city of Bristol.”

The festival starts tomorrow with a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men on Brandon Hill bowling green.

The festival then continues with:

• Romeo and Juliet; GB Theatre Company; June 30 – July 2; Blaise Castle Estate dairy garden.
• The Taming of the Shrew; The Festival Players; July 1; Royal York Crescent gardens.
• Lear 1864 – Trial of Tears; Full Tilt; July 6-15; Ashton Court gardens.
• Macbeth; Oddsocks; July 15-16; Blaise Castle Estate dairy garden.
• The Taming of the Shrew; Heartbreak Productions; July 20-21; Ashton Court gardens.
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Knives Out; July 20-23; Bristol Folk House.
• Julius Caesar; Thrice Three Muses; July 20-30; Boiling Wells amphitheatre.
• Twelfth Night; Hecate Theatre; July 20-23; St Alban’s Church Hall.
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Wells Community Youth Theatre; July 27-28; Alma Tavern Theatre.
• Hamlet; Wells Community Youth Theatre; July 29-30; Alma Tavern Theatre.
• Twelfth Night; Taking Flight Theatre Company; July 27; Blaise Castle Estate dairy gardens.
• Twelfth Night; Illyria; July 28; Bristol Zoo.