‘Bardathon’ a huge success

Monday 5th May 2008, 6:59PM BST.

Carole Moreton and Linda Sagar from Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Joanna Purslow, bottom, from Shropshire Drama Company A “cast of thousands” helped bring to life 12 of William Shakespeare’s best known plays to help raise money for charity during a marathon event.

Shropshire Drama Company organised the Bardathon, which began in Shrewsbury’s Square at 7am on Saturday and finished in The Square shortly after 4pm yesterday. Part of the performance also took place in a college and pub.

Event co-ordinator Neville Street said the bardathon, to raise money for the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity and SDC’s forthcoming production of Richard III, had been a big success.

He said: “We’ve had a cast of thousands because there were so many different drama groups from across the county involved.

“We’ve done public performances of other plays before but never anything like this. At the moment we haven’t had all the pledges in but we were totting it up last night and we think we raised around about £800.”

A group of people stayed in The Square throughout the performances while others came and went.

Click here to see our photo gallery from other Bank Holiday events