A Midsummer Nights Dream performances at Berkeley Castle

We are very excited to announce that this year in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, we will welcome production of 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' back to Berkeley Castle. 

Did you know the play was originally written for a Berkeley family wedding?

On the 19th February 2016 we celebrated the 420th anniversary of the marriage between Lord Thomas Berkeley & Elizabeth Carey, the Berkeley couple whose wedding the world renowned William Shakespeare initially wrote A Midsummer Nights Dream for. This play evolved into one of the most well known and loved plays in theatre to this date. 

Producer Tom Berkeley from Split Second Productions originally contacted us back at the beginning of last year.  From the moment our team met him and his fellow actors their enthusiasm, passion and talent won us all over. 

"It’s a huge honour to bring ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, which holds such a  special place in my family history, back to Berkeley Castle. In July, history will repeat itself; never again will this play be performed at a venue so fitting on such a special anniversary- it is truly unique.This July, ‘The Dream’ comes home"

Tom Berkeley - Producer 

When & Where

Fingers crossed for a balmy summer, the play will be performed in the Berkeley Castle Grounds with the medieval fortress as the backdrop. Your picnic blankets can be spread out and camping chairs popped up, hampers full of homemade goodies opened and of course a glass of something yummy in hand! Then the magic is ready to begin.... 

The performance will feature live music and an array of talented actors & actresses including:

 Ross White as Oberon/Theseus, Hannah Baxter-Eve as Puck, Natasha Ravenscroft as Titania/Hippolyta, Cory Chambers as Lysander, Alex Myers-Allenas Demetrius, Alex Coppola as Bottom, Maddie Hatt as Hermia, Ocean Barrington-Cook as Helena, Jay Parsons as Quince, Angus Berryman as Egeus/Snug, Lucy-May Orange as Starveling and Jarrad Pugh as Flute. 

Tickets

Performances will take place on the following evenings in July this year: 
(for tickets click here)

Sunday 17th July
Monday 18th July
Tuesday 19th July
Wednesday 20th July
Thursday 21st July

Sunday 24th 
Monday 25th
Tuesday 26th 
Wednesday 27th 

Evening Tickets - £15 per adult; £10 per child; £45 for a family ticket 

(entry to the grounds will be from 6.30pm with the performance commencing at 7.30pm) 

There will also be Matinee performances on the following select days: 

(for tickets click here)

Tuesday 19th 

Wednesday 20th 

Thursday 21st

Matinee Tickets - £10 per adult or child 

(entry to the grounds from midday with the performance commencing at 1pm) 

For more information about bringing a large school or association group to a matinee performance please contact us on 01453 810 303. 

A Split Second and PRG Production 

Wedding Ideas Magazine Feature

Last year we were approached by Olivia from Host Event Management who was bubbling with ideas for a Highland Themed Wedding Shoot and we both agreed that Berkeley Castle would be the perfect location! At the end of the project we were delighted to have the shoot featured in Wedding Idea's Magazine which is a nationwide publication for engaged couples. 

Having had many planning and visually inspired meetings, the shoot day finally came with all the suppliers rocking up early in the morning to get cracking. 

Being late October, the grounds were looking gorgeous with rich orange leaves carpeting the grass. Remarkably, the gardens were still in bloom and we managed to get a gorgeous shot of Jack and Liz surrounded by shrubs & purple flowers which just so happened to be a key colour used in the styling.

Inside the Castle, Olivia & Catherine were hard at work styling. The top table was set in the Great Hall in front of the large open fire place and upstairs in the Long Drawing Room a Civil Ceremony was staged for 70 guests. Olivia's mood board was inspired by autumn and winter weddings wishing to create a moody, luxe and rich feel opposed to the usual whimsical summery shoots which you tend to see. Scottish tartan was a central fabric used to create the theme alongside deep purple's and red's. 

Luxury chargers, crockery and glassware helped to create an opulent feel with a gorgeous candelabra as the centerpiece. 

We loved working with all the suppliers on this project and meeting a few new faces - it all pulled together to be, what I hope you will agree, a stunning shoot full of inspiration for a bride & groom's dream autumn or winter wedding. Enjoy a browse through the pictures or pick up your copy of Wedding Idea's Magazine which is in stores now. 

Alternatively for more information on hosting your wedding day at Berkeley Castle please follow this link. 

Many thanks to all the fantastic suppliers involved in making the shoot such a success. 

Albert Palmer Photography 

Jessica Mills Make-Up Artist 

Lisa Elliott Floral Design

Pretty Amazing Cakes  

Cotswold Letterpress

Veils of Berkeley 

Mens Hire Bristol

Vanessa Hambly Hair 

Models: Liz McMenamin & Jack Bain


www.berkeleycastleweddings.co.uk

The end of a fantastic season at Berkeley Castle

                                              (Berkeley Castle)

The dust has settled since we closed our gates to visitors for the season just over a month ago! A massive thank you to everyone involved in making 2015 such a fantastic year – from all our wonderful visitors, school groups and the annual dig, to our brilliant team of staff and volunteers who have such an outstanding knowledge of the Castle & its history and who keep everything ticking along.

I caught up with Operations Manager, Jackie, following the closure of the gates. From great visitor numbers to wonderful TripAdvisor reviews…. Jackie has been absolutely delighted with how successful the open season has been this year.

(The Apostles Porch)

Introducing a more family friendly approach with a whole range of fun activities including jester activity sheets, arts and crafts and a dressing up area was all greatly welcomed by our younger visitors (and even some of the parents!). One of the highlights for the year for Jackie was the Easter Dragons, which proved so popular we will be having them back for four whole days from Good Friday next year. The year saw many other entertainers at Berkeley Castle, including: falconry shows; deer hound racing; battling knights; medieval jesters and beastly Berkeley. But one of the most heart-warming aspects of the job for Jackie is seeing happy visitors wandering through the castle with the appreciation that there really is something for everyone here. Whether that be the aforementioned children’s activities, our historical tours of the castle, a peaceful moment of tranquility in the garden, transporting yourself to a tropical paradise in our butterfly house or a delicious afternoon cream tea in the Yurt…. No matter what age, everyone was able to find their own little slice of Berkeley Castle heaven.

(Family Fun) 

Easter is always the busiest time of the year at Berkeley so it is no surprise that Easter Monday saw our highest ever number of visitors, it is truly lovely to think that families make a trip to Berkeley Castle as an annual event. Often we will hear of several generations having visited the castle & grounds with many past generations also having made the trip all those years ago. For example, one of our lovely visitors left us a note to thank us and said that the purpose of their trip was to bring her children after her first visit some 35 years ago! Jackie has also been overwhelmed with the number of people who have taken the time to write such kind comments on our TripAdvisor page. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g503817-d215314-Reviews-Berkeley_Castle-Berkeley_Cotswolds_England.html

                                  (Jackie & Roland meeting her Royal Highness)

                                                 

A personal highlight for Jackie was our visit from the Countess of Wessex to open our Hidden Treasures Exhibition. The Countess of Wessex arrived at Berkeley Castle by helicopter, welcomed by the children from Berkeley Primary School on arrival. Charles Berkeley then proceeded to give her Royal Highness Sophie a private tour of the Castle. Castle staff & volunteers then gathered in the Great Hall with a select few able to meet her Royal Highness… and of course a classic British Cream Tea was enjoyed by all. Welcoming her Royal Highness to Berkeley Castle was not only an honour but it was also a privilege to meet such a kind and caring member of the royal family.

                                                                                   (Berkeley Castle Grounds) 

After such an exciting year in 2015… You might be asking yourself what you can expect to see next year at Berkeley Castle. Well…. we plan to continue developing the family activities, making sure there is fun for all the family. As well as that we will be putting on a Tudor Festival in May Half Term and also a fantastic performance of the Midsummer Night’s Dream play in celebration of the 400^th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. Did you know that the play was inspired by a Berkeley Family Wedding? As well as weekly activities during the school holidays such as our entertaining jester, archery, arts & crafts and much more… we also have a very exciting surprise lined up for Easter Weekend! But you will have to keep your eyes and ears open to hear what that is… whilst you wait, here is a lovely video to remind you of lots of the happy times at Berkeley Castle from this year! 

Berkeley Castle will re-open for Easter Weekend from Friday 25th March to Monday 28th  March 2016 and then every Sunday – Wednesday from the 3rd April to 26th October 2016.

Flash Back to Olivia & Patrick's Summer Wedding

A Gorgeous Berkeley Castle Summer Wedding

We were recently sent this brilliant video by Gorgeous Films from Olivia & Patrick's beautiful summer wedding last July. The sun shone, smiles were wide and a delightfully memorable day was had by all. 

Guests arrived via a double decker bus and enjoyed a wonderful ceremony in St Mary's church (mere metres from Berkeley Castle!). After the ceremony, the Bride & Groom went for a short drive in their Vintage Car whilst guests meandered over to the Castle Gun Terrace.

Bubbly was expertly poured, canapes were served with a smile and guests enjoyed musical jazz delights on the Terraces under the summer sun. 

One of our wonderful recommended florists, Maria at Sorori Design, decorated the Great Hall for the Wedding Breakfast to give a stunningly elegant effect, suiting the wedding day and couple perfectly. 

Olivia and Patrick's friends and family dined on a delicious three course meal which was followed by moving speeches and of course finished off with a toast!

Scrumptious cakes created by Jennie at Curtis & Co  were served in the Long Drawing Room along with macaroons to complement the serving of Tea & Coffee. In the Small Drawing Room guests relaxed on the comfy furnishings while tucking into the Cheese Tower and sipping on Port.

Whilst guests relaxed and mingled in the Drawing Rooms, the Berkeley Castle team were magically transforming the Great Hall for the evening Reception. Atmospheric lighting was bought in, tables were removed and center pieces decoratively re-positioned. With the DJ and Saxophonist setting up on their own mini stage, the dais, the scene was set. 

The Evening Wedding Reception involved much dancing and a serving of Bacon Rolls to keep guest's tummy's full and energy for dancing high. The day finished with a celebratory send off to Blossom Cottage for Olivia & Patrick full of cheers and smiles.

Many many congratulations to Olivia & Patrick, we hope you are continuing to enjoy married life (nearly a year on!). 

A massive thank you to Ian from Pear Tree Pictures for all of these truly beautiful photos.

If you're dreaming of a summer wedding, Pippa and Immy our passionate Wedding Coordinators would love to show you around the Castle and talk through your plans and ideas for your big day. Get in touch on weddings@berkeley-castle.com or visit the weddings website here. 

Berkeley Castle awarded Best UK Wedding Venue at the British Wedding Awards

We are so delighted to say that at The British Wedding Awards on the 23rd January 2015 Berkeley Castle was voted The Best UK Wedding Venue! 

We are absolutely over the moon and would like to say a massive thank you to all our lovely brides & grooms for voting and making this possible! We feel very honored and proud to have been bestowed such a prestigious award. 

Being our first wedding accolade here at Berkeley Castle makes it even more wonderful and special. 

Pippa, Wedding & Events Manager, has worked so very hard over the last few years to make weddings not only possible but also a dream come true for all our couples who choose to get married with us. 

We have an exciting year ahead and can't wait to continue helping all our Bride's and Groom's have a truly special day. 

If you're interested in holding your wedding or special event here at Berkeley Castle please take a look at our dedicated site or get in touch with Pippa or Immy on weddings@berkeley-castle.com who will be delighted to talk through your wedding or event plans. 

http://www.berkeleycastleweddings.co.uk/