Reluctantly, but concurring with the social distancing guidelines during the current coronavirus pandemic, we have made the decision to cancel the 2020 tour of Henry V. This decision has been made in the interests of the safety of our venues, audiences, and company of actors. Although we all hope the current lockdown will be decreased over the coming months, it is unrealistic that things will return to the normality of previous years before our tour was due to end in September.

We are hopeful that we can bring you our planned production of Henry V in 2021. We had 80 performances booked for this year and actors had been contracted and arrangements made for tour accommodations. We are keeping our fingers crossed that we can resurrect our tour plans in 2021 but we will be struggling until then to keep the ship afloat; the Company exists without grant aid of any kind and all the team and actors are freelance workers, who will be without income from The Festival Players.

We appreciate that there is a big drain on everyone’s finances during the crisis, but if you are able to help us with a gift you will be contributing to the future existence of the longest-running (35 Years) open-air touring Shakespeare Company. Perhaps you can donate the price you would have paid for your tickets, or maybe a little more. All donors will be gratefully acknowledged and listed in our next programme (if you wish).