As much as I love the Globe, I haven’t lived in London for years. Fortunately, New Haven, Connecticut, is home to the fabulous Elm Shakespeare Company who, as well as their amazing Education programmes, in the summer perform Shakespeare In the Park, at Edgerton Park, free and open to all.
With marked spaces for blankets at the front and chairs behind, we gathered in front of the stage as the evening started to dim. Summer 2025’s production was A Midsummer Night’s Dream, so we took both the kids, then 7 and 11, and met up with friends and their families. I spent the day telling and re-telling the story to my daughter so she was ready for the interweaving mix-ups. I had also bought her Bold and Brave Women from Shakespeare (illus. by Becca Stadtlander, Walker Books, 2020) (from the gift shop at the Globe – which is somewhat irresistible to both the kids and me). Titania is among the twelve women featured in the book, with a brief outline of her story, and a gorgeous picture of her attended in her ‘fairy bower’.
The Elm Shakespeare production had been given a Bollywood twist, which delighted the kids as both of them enjoy Bollywood films and the music. The set had been built around and into the trees, so the park and the night were part of the setting, and the whole evening was threaded through with enchantment.
In an unfortunate turn of events, the night we attended, one of the cast became suddenly unwell, and after an improvised line that I was sure wasn’t in the text, and a long pause, the play had to stop part way through. I was glad to hear later that the cast member recovered, but it was an abrupt finish, and I think the only time I’ve ever had a play stop before the end. The kids were disappointed of course, they’d been enjoying Helena’s performance in particular (– a tiny bit of me was glad to be taking them home to bed closer to 9pm than 10pm, even on a summer’s evening). But we will go back. There is something extra special about open air theatre and it feels less stressful with younger children as they have space to wriggle. While acknowledging the adult themes, the Elm Shakespeare Company make their plays family-friendly with music, welcoming theatre, and wonderful productions. I’m so glad for all they do to welcome children and young people into the delight and wonder of Shakespeare.
P.S. What I’m reading. I am continuing with reading Wuthering Heights, which I’m finding very compelling. However we’re a little while off book group, and I wondered if I didn’t want to finish it too soon before the meeting. Fortunately, another book group member recommended The Favorites by Layne Fargo (2025) to us all. The Favorites is inspired by Wuthering Heights – the main characters are Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha, and brother and sister Bella and Garrett Lin – but set in the world of elite competitive ice dancing. So far it is extremely readable, and while less explicit than Heated Rivalry, has plenty of ice-based emotional sizzle, and it’s fun to be reading it in parallel with Wuthering Heights. Having seen the new Emerald Fennell ‘Wuthering Heights’ film now as well, there will be lots to discuss at our next meeting!
Books for Our Children 