The Three Inch Fools live at Butley Priory

Orford Museum is delighted to welcome The Three Inch Fools for a musical performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Formed in 2015 by brothers James and Stephen Hyde the idea for The Three Inch Fools was simple – staging a production that was inventive, fast-paced and used music to bring to life Shakespeare’s timeless stories. Over the past seven years the company have staged 14 plays around the UK including Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet and Twelfth Night.

Butley Priory is a unique venue and we always receive very positive feedback from people who have attended Orford Museum events there. Martin Fletcher former associate editor and foreign editor of The Times told us:

“We, and the sell-out crowd encamped on the lawn in front of the 14th century Butley Priory, were bowled over by last August’s son-et-lumiere. It was a highly professional production in a spectacular setting. Not even the rain detracted from a delightfully unusual evening.”

Nick Robinson, journalist and presenter of BBC Radio 4 Today programme wrote:

“As dusk fell and the coats of arms above the entrance to Butley Priory were lit up one by one the centuries rolled back. Soon ‘that nice place to hold your wedding reception’ was transformed into a repository of history long forgotten or never known thanks to the beautifully scripted commentary of the night’s son et lumiere. This was the place where, as legend has it, the silver coffin had been buried with the body of the third earl of Suffolk, who fell at the battle of Agincourt in 1415. Here was the site of Mary Tudor’s legendary alfresco suppers. Oh, and did you know, it was one of her brother Henry VIII’s favourite hunting grounds?

Aided by the accomplished readings and performances of Miranda Raison and David Schofield we were guided through the stories not just of the Kings & Queens of England & local dukes & earls but also how Butley Priory had been shaped by the power of Papacy, the Holy Roman Empire and monarchs of France.

If this had just been a lovely summer evening to enjoy a picnic and a glass or two with family and friends it would have been worthwhile. It was, however, much more than that. As the light dimmed and the last word of commentary was uttered we all left with a much greater sense of place, of our community and our history. Here’s hoping it won’t be the last to be staged. Perhaps Orford Castle next?”

The event on August 26th will take place outdoors, so please bring chairs, rugs and a picnic. There will be a 20 minute interval.

The show will go on unless the weather forces a postponement in which case it will be rescheduled to a future date.

Orford Museum Friends £20; non-Friends £25. Children under 16 years £14; children under 8 years free.

For Friends and guests, please use our online booking system. For non-Friends, please use our booking form. If you have any queries please email us at info@orfordmuseum.org.uk.