Pack a picnic, grab your friends and celebrate summer with a night of theatrical magic on Sydney’s fabulous harbour foreshore. Proudly supported by the City of Sydney, the 2010 Sydney Shakespeare Festival kicks off in January with performances on alternate nights of Shakespeare’s wicked, yet poignant crowd-pleaser, Twelfth Night and his provocative and unsettling comedy, The Merchant of Venice. FREE for children 12 years and under, people with disabilities and people aged 65 years and over, the festival will take place in Bicentennial Park, Glebe Foreshore every Thursday to Sunday at 8pm from 7 January until 14 February 2010.

Shakespeare’s plays have captured the imagination of millions of people throughout the world for over 400 years and are as exciting and provocative now as the day they were written. In Twelfth Night, cross-dressing, mistaken identity, heroes, villains and all kinds of gamesmanship are in abundance. The pursuit of love is revealed as a vexing, troubled and potentially humiliating pastime, a kind of emotional shipwreck that ends either in disaster or salvation. In The Merchant of Venice, when a bride is won with an enemy’s money, the debt must be repaid. In arguably Shakespeare’s most controversial play, competing claims of tolerance, prejudice, justice and mercy are played out in some of his most electrifying scenes. In the character of Shylock, Shakespeare created one of the most unforgettable outsiders in all theatre.

In its third year, the annual Sydney Shakespeare Festival has fast become one of Sydney’s summer event highlights. Outdoor theatre is the most accessible and historical performance style and it’s a great way to spend a summer evening. You can bring a picnic, enjoy a glass of wine and experience the wonder of Shakespeare under the stars, all while taking in spectacular views of Sydney Harbour, the city skyline and surrounding urban parkland.

Directed by Julie Baz and designed by David Jeffrey, the festival will be brought to life by a versatile and multi-talented ensemble cast who will perform in both plays. The cast includes John Burdon, Joshua Combes, Christina Falsone, Tori Hartigan, Richard Hilliar, David Jeffrey, Bradley Linney, Cherilyn Price, Roger Adam Smith, Jacob Thomas and Nicole Wineberg.

For all you need to know about the 2010 Sydney Shakespeare Festival including the performance dates for each play, how to book tickets, how to get there and what to bring, check out the Sydney Shakespeare Festival website: www.sydneyshakespearefestival.com.au