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About

"Flawless"

Big Issue North

"Unmissable"

The Scotsman

"Inspired"

The Independent

"Enchanting"

Broken Spine

The story of Illyria

During a performance of Macbeth at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre on a grey, windy evening in August 1991, a pigeon swooped across the stage on the line “The crow makes wing to the rooky wood,” and disappeared into the gloom. A completely chance event of course, but the actor’s following the bird with his eyes added something indefinable that was both magical and utterly gripping - and completely unimaginable indoors.

 

The idea to create Illyria sprang from that single random moment. The original season in 1992 was conceived to last just two weeks. But such was the appetite amongst venues for a young theatre company with a refreshingly vibrant approach to Shakespeare that a full nine-week tour ended up being booked.

Categories

Each year we tour a programme of titles across the UK, so there’s a show for everyone. Read about the different genres on offer or learn more about our approach to suitability.

Shakespeare

Illyria has an unmatched reputation for the clarity and authenticity of its Shakespeare productions. Using First Folio texts prepared by Shakespeare’s own colleagues, our shows are slick, physical, imaginative and expertly spoken – and the comedies are even funny…who knew?! Illyria’s Artistic Director is a published writer on Shakespearean verse-speaking.

Family friendly

Illyria’s family shows are created with younger audiences in mind, but there is always plenty for all generations to enjoy. We take inspiration from stories that are smart, or sensitive, or scary, or subversive or just plain silly – and sometimes all of these. We believe it is an important responsibility to ensure a child's first experience of live theatre is a memory to be cherished.

Classics

Illyria blows the dust off classic books and stuffy TV costume dramas to create shows that are sparkling, and vibrant, and fresh. We love to uncover the bitchiness of Jane Austen or to recreate the dazzling swordplay described in The Three Musketeers. While remaining faithful to the original texts, we feel there’s also room for just a little mischief…

Gilbert & Sullivan

Gilbert & Sullivan’s original works are witty, romantic, bitingly satirical, and surprisingly silly - making them perfect for Illyria. We perform them with a reduced cast of actor-singers (astoundingly playing both the leading roles and their own chorus) accompanied by fully orchestrated tracks of Sullivan’s beautiful music.

The people of Illyria

Staff team

Oliver Gray

Artistic Director

Oliver created Illyria in 1991. He has now directed eighty-five productions, and written twenty-two of them. He has lost his hair to prove it. He trained at ALRA and got his Equity card playing a dalek in ‘Doctor Who – The Ultimate Adventure’. He performed in the West End production of ‘The BFG’, appeared for two years in The Bill, and has spent fourteen panto seasons as one half of the award-winning ugly sister act, 'Lav and Lou'. His article on Shakespearean verse-speaking was published in the Voice & Speech Review.

Stephen Badham

Producer

Stephen first worked for Illyria in 2000, touring with The Emperor's New Clothes and Alice in Wonderland. After working for 14 years in the film and television sector on productions such as Peaky Blinders and Star Wars, he returned to Illyria in an organisational capacity in 2017.

Leopold Pandapaws Gutbucket Horner-Gray

Talent Liaison Executive

Leo comes to Illyria from Protectora De Animales Y Plantas in Benidorm via Keeping Hope Dog Rescue in Cornwall. He is as excited to meet Illyria’s performers as he is about eating his two daily meals and playing with his black rubber ball. The latter allegedly has a lifetime guarantee which he is determined to put to the test.

We are lucky to have worked with a fantastic selection of professionally-trained, world-class artists, ensuring we can produce shows of the highest quality. Many of them return to work with us, year after year. We really value their contribution, talent, and energy. They make Illyria, Illyria!

Creatives

Kim Healey

Director

Kim joined Illyria in 2022 as Choreographer for The Pirates of Penzance. She spent 2023 as Assistant Director, Movement Director and Production Assistant on all productions that year. In 2024, she also had the privilege of choreographing The Gondoliers - and directing Romeo and Juliet.

Richard Healey

Musical Director

Richard, resident Musical Director at Hall for Cornwall, first worked with Illyria on The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado. Since then, he has re-orchestrated and directed Pirates, HMS Pinafore, and The Gondoliers, and composed music for Romeo and Juliet. Trained at Southampton, Bournemouth, and Cambridge, he teaches Musical Theatre at Falmouth University.
Website

Talent (A-Z)

Edward Simpson

Actor

Edward Simpson joined Illyria in 2011. He specialises in authority figures: Major Generals, First Lords of the Admiralty, Lord High Executioners, Doctors and high-society ladies. He is happiest performing in beautiful surroundings in an Illyria show. Photo thanks to Samuel Black Photography.

Nicholas Alexander Lee

Actor

After time as a street performer in Covent Garden, Nicholas began touring with Illyria in 2018. He is also a fabulous entertainer and member of the Magic Circle. His favourite Illyria show was Peter Pan, which was the first show of its kind to tour with a flying rig.
Website

Julian Brett

Actor

Julian (actor, puppeteer, theatremaker) trained at London School of Musical Theatre. Credits include The LeftBehinds (National Theatre), Gangsta Baby (Hope Theatre) and Spitting Image Live (Birmingham REP). Julian sings with Trans Voices, London Contemporary Voices and gigs as their cabaret character Cava Charley.
Website

Rachel O'Hare

Actor

Rachel trained at the Arts University Bournemouth. Her debut role with Illyria was as Princess Ruby in ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ in 2017, followed by Sir Henry Baskerville, Miranda in ‘The Tempest’, Hero in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’, Wendy in ‘Peter Pan’ and Maid Marian in ‘Robin Hood’.
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Plaudits

"An unforgettable theatrical experience"

Theatre&Tonic

"Pure joy"

Theatre&Tonic

"Beautifully delivered"

The Scotsman

"Radical entertainment"

The Scotsman

"Captivating"

Susan Elkin

"The perfect watch for a summer evening"

Theatre&Tonic

"First class outdoor theatre"

Edinburgh Music Review

★★★★★

Theatre&Tonic

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