A Magical Afternoon of Shakespeare in Our Gardens

The production was brought to us by The Open Bar Theatre and The Dot Collective, who are touring the South of England this summer to celebrate ten years of bringing accessible theatre to communities and outdoor spaces.

Set amongst our quintessentially English gardens, the performance was full of energy, colour, music and laughter. Residents and guests were drawn into the story as the talented cast brought Shakespeare’s famous tale of love and drama to life in a wonderfully engaging and interactive way.

One of the most memorable moments of the day came when members of the cast took the performance beyond the stage and into the home itself. Knowing that not everyone was able to join us outdoors, Romeo and Juliet visited residents in their rooms, even treating one resident to a personal duet.

Chris Golding, Chief Operating Officer at The Dower House, said:

“Whilst some residents still enjoy trips to the theatre, others are no longer able to attend performances in the traditional way, so it is a real pleasure to bring the theatre to them. The cast truly embraced the spirit of the day – Romeo and Juliet even sang a duet for one of our residents in their room, creating a very special moment that will be remembered for a long time.”

The cast’s enthusiasm was infectious, encouraging residents, relatives and staff to join in, dance, sing and become part of the performance.

Christine Farmery, Activities Co-ordinator at The Dower House, said:

“The cast were absolutely wonderful. Seeing our residents and staff encouraged to get up, dance and become part of the production was fabulous. The two residents who received personal visits from the cast in their rooms were especially touched by the experience. It brought such joy to everyone involved.”

One resident, Mrs Read, was delighted by her surprise visit from the performers and couldn’t stop smiling as she recalled the experience:

“This young, good-looking man came into my room, took hold of my hand and sang to me. I was so thrilled! I’ve never had anyone sing like that to me before. He had a powerful and beautiful voice!”

The afternoon was a wonderful example of how arts and culture can enrich lives, create lasting memories and bring people together. We are incredibly grateful to The Open Bar Theatre and The Dot Collective for sharing their talent with us and helping to create such a memorable experience for our residents, families and community.

At The Dower House, we believe that meaningful experiences don’t have to stop because someone moves into care. Events like this help ensure our residents continue to enjoy the arts, connect with their community and experience moments of joy, wonder and inspiration every day.

A big thank you to The Dot Collective for coming to The Dower House and we look forward to welcoming more performances and community events to our gardens in the future.