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Ousted Huntingdon Shakespeare troupe hopes all will end well

Shakespeare at The George Actors performing at the George Hotel in HuntingdonShakespeare at The George
A Shakespeare theatre group is looking at new venues after being forced to leave a hotel

A Shakespeare theatre group forced to leave the hotel where it has performed for 65 years has said new venues are being explored.

Shakespeare at The George (SaTG) will perform once more at The George Hotel in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, after owner Greene King ended a contract.

SaTG Trust chair Reuben Milne said several people had been in touch and new venue options suggested.

He said pubs, clubs and historic venues had contacted SaTG.

'Interesting options'

"As well as an outpouring of love and affection for SaTG, I'm delighted to say that we're into double figures in terms of folks contacting us with potential venues," he said.

"We are a long way from being able to confirm any venue but there are some really interesting options in those we've received and we intend to visit all of them over the next few weeks.

"Pubs, clubs and some historic buildings have been in touch since the news that we were leaving The George broke."

He said the group was also taking to Huntingdonshire District Council about open spaces such as parks.

Shakespeare at The George Actors on stageShakespeare at The George
SaTG says there has been an "outpouring of love"

No decisions had yet been made about any change of name, Mr Milne said.

"That's up in the air," he added.

"We would like to keep 'SaTG' because that's a name we're associated with."

SaTG has said an open-air summer production of Hamlet will be its last performance at The George.

Shakespeare at The George Black and white image of actors on stageShakespeare at The George
SaTG has been performing Shakespeare at The George Hotel for 65 years

Mr Milne said the group was looking for a "new performance space" in the Huntingdon area.

He said the troupe first performed at The George in 1959, with a production of The Taming of the Shrew.

Greene King said The George could not commit to future dates because of "other events and commitments".

"This is not a decision that we have taken lightly, and we know that this will be disappointing for those who have attended the productions," a spokeswoman had said.

"We would like to thank those who have supported the Shakespeare at The George over the years and wish the theatre company the very best for both this year's performance and for the future."

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