SYDNEY SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

Between the Anzac Bridge and the Inner West flight path, Bicentennial Park on the Glebe Foreshore is a beautiful venue for some summertime Shakespeare. Now in its fourth year, it’s no surprise that The Sydney Shakespeare Festival has become a popular fixture on Sydney’s summer event calendar: there’s not much better than a picnic, a sunset, a glass of wine, and Shakespearean verse. This year they’re performing the original meta-play A Midsummer Night’s Dream and star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet and they’re both ambitious productions. Produced and directed by Julie Baz, co-founder of the Festival, each play is brought to life by a terrific ensemble cast who bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to their roles, although some are more skilled at speaking in iambic pentameter than others. Unfortunately though, like any outdoor event, The Sydney Shakespeare Festival is at the hands of the weather and when I saw A Midsummer Night’s Dream the violent downpour of rain quickly made it feel like it should have been The Tempest and it was declared rained out. So pack a picnic but bring your umbrella, just in case.

Until Feb 27, Bicentennial Park, Glebe Foreshore, $17-29, sydneyshakespearefestival.com.au