​BUXTON DRAMA LEAGUE

Performing excerpts from Shakespeare in all weathers during the Buxton Fringe - all for charity.

 

Biography

The Shakespeare Jukebox was started in 2005 by Gerard Crawshaw, who bravely stood outside the Buxton Opera House, wearing nothing but doublet and hose, and invited audiences to select extracts of Shakespeare from a pick list, which he then performed in full Shakespearean garb.

The following year he recruited Maria Carnegie to join him, thus adding to the variety of the pieces that could be performed. This was the first time we performed an extract from The Taming of the Shrew which has remained a popular choice with audiences ever since.

Since that time, the line-up has included Paul Harrison, Alex Archer, Dick Silson, Robbie Carnegie, Barrie Goodwin, Jayne Marling, Malcolm Lomax and Elyse Marling. The pieces we perform are reviewed, added to and re-interpreted each year. Props and additional bits of costume have increasingly found their way in.

We perform what ever the weather - lying down on wet flagstones holds no fear to us.

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During lockdown in 2020, we started creating videos of our favourite Shakespeare scenes and this is now very much part of the Jukebox's output. You can find all our videos on our YouTube channel.

 

Description

The Shakespeare Jukebox is a fund-raising street theatre group, who perform during the Buxton Festival Fringe, in the Street Theatre category. There's no charge for watching, but we do invite donations which currently go to the Buxton Samaritans. For this we are grateful to the many audience members who donate money in exchange for a performance.

 

Awards

Buxton Festival Fringe Award for Street Theatre 2010. 2011. 2012. 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023. Spirit of the Fringe Award 2022