Audience dry, actors wet.
Chepstow Festival new audience cover in Chepstow Castle underwent a severe test last year and passed with flying colours. Four performances including “HMS Pinafore” by Illyria and Saturdays “Private Lives” by Heartbreak Productions were performed in nearly continuous torrential rain. The audience of well over 200 stayed dry thanks to the protection of the £160,000 elegant performance canopy. There were excellent productions from both companies but Illyria performed an astonishing show out in the rain because the mast on their (ship) set was to tall to fit under the canopy. They received a well-deserved standing ovation. The Chepstow Festival of open-air (under-cover) theatre starts in 2013 on June 15 – click on the Theatre flag for full information.
The canopy was funded with European Union grants through the assembly government with match funding provided by Chepstow Town Council and Monmouthshire County Council and the Chepstow Festival.
