Built on classic foundations; You may think you like your Shakespeare authentic but you've got nothing on the world famous Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, which visits Wales for the first time this month. KAREN PRICE asks artistic director Dominic Dromgoole what Welsh audiences can expect...

Byline: KAREN PRICE 

ACASTLE in South Wales will provide the perfect backdrop for actors from the world famous Shakespeare's Globe as they make their Welsh debut this month.

Hundreds of visitors will pack into St Donats Castle in The Vale Of Glamorgan for performances of The Winter's Tale by the company, which is housed at The Globe, a faithful reconstruction of the original Globe which staged the Bard's work, and opened in London in 1997.

"About 350,000 people come to see us performing Shakespeare, as well as new plays, every summer," says artistic director Dominic Dromgoole.

"I thought it would be good to start a touring operation as well as play at the Globe itself.

"Four hundred years ago the original Globe used to be a touring theatre too.

"It was an important part of the Globe's life then so it's great to recreate the same touring pattern now."

Last year the company toured with Romeo and Juliet but Wales was not on the list.

This year, however, the actors will visit St Donats Castle because it fits the company's touring criteria.

"We look for venues which have character, history and charisma," says Dromgoole. He believes Welsh audiences will enjoy the production which is directed by John Dove who also directed The Winter's Tale at the Globe four years ago.

"He (Dove) was very keen to do it again but wanted to look at it in a simple and more flexible format.

He has cut it to just over two hours but it still tells the whole story.

"It's very fresh and alive and spontaneous."

The Winter's Tale was published in 1623 and contains that most famous of Shakespearean stage directions: Exit, pursued by a bear.

As with most of the Bard's plays it touches on jealousy and infidelity.

"People find the play a surprise as they often don't know it," says Dromgoole.

"They've been enchanted by the story. During the first half you are drawn into a dark place and it gives you the impression that it's going to be gloomy, painful and savage.

"But it turns a huge corner and the second half is filled with fun and laughter and song."

The original Globe Theatre was built in 1599 by the playing company Lord Chamberlain's Men, to which Shakespeare belonged. It was destroyed by fire on June 29, 1613 although it was officially closed in 1642 and demolished in 1644.

In 1970 American actor and director Sam Wanamaker founded the Shakespeare Globe Trust and International Shakespeare Globe Centre with the objective of building a faithful recreation of Shakespeare's Globe close to its original Bankside location in Southwark.

It opened in 1997 with a capacity of 1,500 - 900 seated and 600 standing - and it now stages six or seven plays every year, including new works as well as those by Shakespeare.

As a faithful reconstruction it has no roof - so the audience has to brave the elements.

"The weather doesn't put people off. It's a continuous surprise to us that they keep coming here whatever the weather. They seem to like standing in the rain."

If the forecasts are anything to go by, that is a good thing.

The Winter's Tale in St Donats Castle in the Vale of Glamorgan on August 24-25.

Call 020 7401 9919 to book.

CAPTION(S):

GOING GLOBAL: Dominic Dromgoole, artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Inset, scenes from A Winter's Tale, coming to St Donats Castle this month