Walyalup Koort in Fremantle’s revitalised civic heart is set to host to the Perth premiere of Fremantle Theatre Company’s new production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Shakespeare in the Park was a much-loved fixture on Perth’s arts calendar until it’s final performance at Kings Park in 2014.
Fremantle Theatre Company is bringing it back with bang this summer, starting with a regional tour of Margaret River, Bunbury and Albany before performances in Fremantle’s Walyalup Koort on 12-15 January 2022.
FTC Artistic Director and Beaconsfield resident Renato Fabretti said he was thrilled to be staging one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays in Fremantle’s new heart.
“I’m excited just to see that heart start thumping,” Mr Fabretti said.
“I come from small Italian village where everything happens in the square, the piazza. It was the one place you’d gather, whether it was for a midnight spaghettata or a parade like the Blessing of the Fleet.
“I think those moments are great, and I think Fremantle understands that it’s worth stopping things for a moment to commune.”
The Walyalup Koort performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream are being staged with the support of Bankwest and the City of Fremantle.
Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said Shakespeare in the Park would be the perfect way to reintroduce people to the heart of Fremantle.
“This is exactly the type of activity the City wants to see happening in Walyalup Koort. It will draw people from all over Perth to come and enjoy a world-class theatre company presenting one of Shakespeare’s most delightful plays, right in the heart of Fremantle,” Mayor Fitzhardinge said.
“I can’t wait to see the delight on people’s faces as they see the bewitching world of A Midsummer Night’s Dream unfold in front of them, as they relax on the grass slope in front of the Walyalup Civic Centre on a beautiful summer evening.
“Many years of hard work have gone into creating this space for our community to enjoy, so to see it come to life like this will truly be magical.”
Fremantle Theatre Company’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed at Margaret River’s Leeuwin Estate on 29-30 December, Bunbury Senior High School on 4-5 January and Albany’s Whaling Station on 7-8 January.
Following the Walyalup Koort performances the Perth season will conclude at Kings Park from 19-29 January.
