There’s something magical about Maynardville Open Air Theatre that inspires Directors’ imaginations to come up with extraordinary sets and theatrical interpretations, especially of Shakespeare plays. And this year’s productions are no exception, with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cardenio (Shakespeare’s ‘lost play’) and the classical ballet Giselle.

It was back in the mid 1950′s when well-known South African actresses Cecelia Sonnenberg and Rene Ahrenson conceived the idea that the little-used park in Wynberg would make an ideal open air theatre. The Taming of the Shrew was the first production in 1956, and even though they got cold feet and almost backed out, the play went on and played to packed houses. Thus started the legend, which continues today!

Many people who are now leading lights in SA theatre started out or enhanced their careers in those early productions, like Roy Sargeant who directs this year’s Cardenio.  From the very outset there were special concessions for school children, who still find that 400 year old plays in Elizabethan language can nevertheless be as fresh and funny as anything on TV.

Today, Maynardville is managed by the Maynardville Theatre Trust together with Artscape, who continue to carry the banner of classical theatre in what is the most wondrous of settings.

Gather friends for a picnic in the park before the 8.15pm show and relax under the stars to watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream 21 Jan to 23 Feb, Cardenio from 9 Jan to 16 Feb and Giselle from 27 Jan to 17 Feb.

See more info on the Maynardville Website and see our blog post of Fri 4 Jan with our Top 5 Picks of Al-fresco Summer Entertainment.