A Shakespearean Summer At Belsay Hall

English Heritage presents the Merchant of Venice

English Heritage invites you to enjoy one of Shakespeare’s best-known plays - the Merchant of Venice - in Belsay Hall’s magnificent walled garden. The event, taking place on Thursday August 23, is the ultimate way to spend a summer’s evening with friends.

Bring a picnic and a bottle to enjoy a unique performance of this exceptional play, infused with the timeless themes of suffering, vengeance and mercy.

Cross-dressing, caskets and a ring ensure that all aspects of human nature are revealed as each character makes a leap of faith in Shakespeare’s outstanding play.

Belsay Hall boasts a spectacular medieval castle, a Grecian-revival-style 19th-century mansion and thirty acres of stunning Grade I gardens linking the two. In the gardens, you’ll discover thousands of exotic species, famous rhododendrons and the magical Quarry Garden, with ravines, pinnacles and sheer rock faces inspired by the quarries of Sicily.

Jon Hogan, events manager at English Heritage, comments: “Belsay Hall is extremely atmospheric and is the perfect setting for this performance. Visitors are guaranteed an unforgettable evening with a difference.”

Gates open at 6:45pm and performances start at 7:30pm. Admission is: Adults £12; concessions £10 and children £10. Visitors are advised to pre-book by calling 01661 881636.

For a full list of English Heritage sites, admission prices and opening times, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/properties