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In collaboration with distinguished New Zealand writer and composer, Neill Pickard QSM, Enchanting Productions is thrilled to announce the first ever multi-generational production of Sweet William or Born to be Bard. 

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"Mr Pickard's lively and witty show depicts Shakespeare's boyhood in Stratford-on-Avon, his youthful marriage and domestic situation, early struggles as a writer in plague-ridden London, entanglements with the "Dark Lady" and the enigmatic Earl of Southampton, and the flowering of his literary genius."  It also features Shakepeare's son, Hamnet.

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The show incorporates a variety of musical styles from madrigals to jazz, ballads to blues and swing to rock, and will be accompanied by a live band (including Richie Pickard) at The Piano from 16-18 October 2026.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

SWEET WILLIAM CAST LIST:

Miss Rutledge - Olivia Singleton

Thomas - Theo Thomsen

Melissa - Katherine Lord

William Shakespeare - Nic Kyle

Queen Elizabeth I - Juliet Reynolds-Midgley

Dick Tarleton - Stephen Evans

Young William Shakespeare - Ben Cumberpatch

Young Gilbert Shakespeare - Mackenzie Holcroft

Young Joan Shakespeare - Leah Jordan

Young Anne Shakespeare - Eleanor Hegarty

John Shakespeare - Jonathan Densem

Mary Shakespeare - Linda Hicks

Joan Shakespeare aged 10 - Bea Holt

Young Richard Shakespeare - Theo Thomsen

Anne Whateley - Amy Potts

Male quartet - Eli Davis, Oscar Stove, Ben Cumberpatch, Thomas Flavall

Yokels - Jacob Goodwin, Reuben Oh

Anne Hathaway - Eve Kelly Lyford

Fulk Sandells - Billy Weeks

John Richardson - Albie Anderson

Will Kemp - Eli Davis

Thomas Pope - Jacob Goodwin

George Bryan - Billy Weeks

Lord Hunsdon - Matt Hudson

Emilia Bassano - Kimberley Fenton

John Heminges - Oscar Stove

Richard Burbage - Reuben Oh

Gus Philips - Ben Cumberpatch

William Sly - Albie Anderson

Henry Wriothesley (Earl of Southampton) - James R Howey

Robert Devereux (Earl of Essex) - Billy Weeks

John Florio - Jonathan Densem
Undertakers - Ben Cumberpatch, Eli Davis

Richard Field - Stephen Evans

Countess of Southampton - Linda Hicks

Barmaid - Louisa Thomsen

Susanna Shakespeare - Lily Squire

Hamnet Shakespeare - Harry Pringle

Judith Shakespeare - Jessica Whitehead

Gilbert Shakespeare - Thomas Flavall

Joan Shakespeare - Matilda Tombros

Richard Shakepeare - Albie Anderson

Edmund Shakespeare - Mackenzie Holcroft

Hamlet - Reuben Oh

Lady Macbeth - Mia Hearne

Desdemona - Elizabeth Gilmore

King Lear - Stephen Evans

Joan Hart - Rhonda Tombros

William Hart - Eli Davis

Susanna Hall - Rose Martin

John Hall - Billy Weeks

Judith Quiney - Matilda Abbott

Thomas Quiney - Albie Anderson

Elizabeth Hall - Miya Mare

Page - Theo Thomsen

Ensemble only - Olivia Lavery

Children's Chorus only:

Ariana Buxton

Aya Holden

Echo Holden

Samantha Hooper

Holly Martin

Saoirse McCall

Verity Oldham

Eva Rells

Ava Rudkin

Amelia Thomas-Wright

Violet Winterbourn

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​  Creative Team

Director - Louise Glossop

Choreographer - Amy Potts

Music Director - Gabriel Baird

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From those who know the show...

Those who have been in one of the numerous college productions of Sweet William in the past (including CBHS/Avonside Girls' in 1978, StAC/CGHS in 1986 and Cashmere High in 1995) will be able to tell you what a fabulous and fun show it is.  When mentioned to one such actress recently she wrote back: "...how exciting that you are producing 'Sweet William' next year! I absolutely loved that show - definitely one of my all-time favourites. All those songs are forever etched in my mind and heart."  Kate Trevor-Barnston (née Garside)

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"Never a dull moment"

Professor of English literature, Richard Corballis, who reviewed one production, wrote: "Pickard's music is jaunty and his dialogue a clever pastishe of the genuine Shakespearean article." 

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"Love it!! Very funky and reminds me of Jesus Christ Superstar a little bit :)"

- Nic Kyle

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You don't want to miss this Shakespeare sensation.  Put 16th-18th October in your calendar now!

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