Shropshire estate hosts Shakespearean double-bill in landscape that breathed life into the classics

This summer residency by the all-female ensemble, The Whole Pack Theatre, marks a rare opportunity for audiences to experience the playwright’s work in the very environment that shaped its legacy. By utilizing the estate's ancient woodland and unique architecture, the upcoming performances bridge the gap between Tudor history and modern storytelling.

The weekend begins on the evening of Saturday, August 29, with a production of Macbeth that leans heavily into the traditions of folk horror. This all-female staging explores the dark consequences of greed and the collapse of community trust. As twilight falls over the estate, the silhouette of Soulton Wood serves as a natural extension of the stage. The performance focuses on the chilling reality of a world where individual ambition severs the ties of a mutual society, driven by the weight of a dark prophecy that feels as inevitable as the shifting shadows of the trees.

The tone shifts from shadow to celebration on the afternoon of Sunday, August 30, for a performance of As You Like It. This play holds a singular place in the heritage of the house, as Soulton is recognised as its birthplace. The character of "Old Sir Rowland" is a direct tribute to the Tudor figure Sir Rowland Hill, an ancestor of the estate whose legacy of humanist thought still influences the grounds today.

By staging the comedy in the Epidaurus Court, the company offers audiences a rare perspective. As the characters seek liberty within the Forest of Arden, the viewers can look out toward the actual ancient woodland that provided the original spark for the playwright over four centuries ago. This connection turns the performance into a homecoming, celebrating the enduring link between the Shropshire landscape and the creative spirit.

Full ticketing information and further performance particulars are available on the events section of the Soulton Hall website.