The Handlebards to Tour the UK with MACBETH and THE COMEDY OF ERRORS on Bikes, Beg. May 28

Beautifully British and bonkers -- this summer, the HandleBards, a four- strong, all-male troupe of cycling players, will pedal the length and breadth of the UK for three months to perform fast-pace productions of Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Comedy Of Errors. This will be the second outing of their World First in environmentally sustainable touring theatre, after they successfully toured productions of Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet last year.

To add to the challenge, the HandleBards, who will all be riding bicycles provided by the fashionable Luv Handles Bike Boutique, are carrying all the required set, props, costumes and camping equipment for the 2000 mile journey on their bikes, with no back-up vehicle in support.

Starting in London on 28th May, the HandleBards are passing through almost 50 venues across Scotland and England. These are excitingly diverse, ranging from castles and country houses to cycle shops and even an old RN frigate - HMS Unicorn, which is currently docked in Dundee. They will stop off at Harewood House in Yorkshire for the Tour De France Grand Départ and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh for the Fringe. They are also performing at The Dell in Stratford-upon-Avon (the Royal Shakespeare Company's outdoor playing space) and Rufford Old Hall in Lancashire, where Shakespeare himself performed in 1585.

All set and props used in the productions are restricted only to items that could be found either on a bicycle or in a campsite, with the team's bikes rigged up to power various mechanical contraptions onstage. The use of bicycles as transport for the escapade will also save 45.6 tonnes of CO2 emissions, as compared to the same adventure undertaken by car. Shakespeare is truly sustainable in his first ever fully 'green' tour. At each venue, the four HandleBards perform alongside acoustic bands and musicians, each resident to the area, ensuring that their low-tech British pragmatism fully engages local showgoers.

Paul Moss, the HandleBards Tour Manager comments: "One of the best parts of the tour is getting to meet so many people - the support we receive is tremendous, because people are excited about who we are and what we do. They find the project refreshing. Getting to see the amazing British countryside is also a huge benefit to cycling and performing in outdoor venues. I'm particularly excited about performing Macbeth on Dunsinnan Hill, which might very well be one of this year's highlights".

ABOUT THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM:

Before the HandleBards, none of the boys could claim to be avid cyclists. As such, they were thoroughly unprepared for numerous incidents on last year's tour - including the challenge of dragging a 60kg trailer across the Yorkshire Dales in 32-degree heat. They've been in constant training this Spring though, so you'll have to keep an eagle eye out if you don't want to miss them whizz down your street this summer. Director James Farrell's recent directing work includes Twelfth Night (Royal and Derngate) and Pericles (Royal Shakespeare Company), as Assistant Director The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre) and as Staff Director Olivier Award Winning Goodnight Mister Tom (Phoenix Theatre and National Tour). Designer Libby Todd's recent work includes Trojan Women (Brockley Jack Studio Theatre), The Bacchae (London Tour), After The End (Battersea Arts Centre) and Shakespeare for Breakfast (Edinburgh Fringe). The HandleBards are supported using public funding by Arts Council England and the National Lottery.

For tickets and full tour schedule, visit: www.peculius.com.

TOUR DATES:

Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham - 29th May | The Comedy Of Errors | 2pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 0844 249 1895

Sustainability Centre, Petersfield - 30th May | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01730 823 166

Larmer Tree Gardens, Salisbury - 1st June | Macbeth | 6pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01725 516 971

Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury - 2nd June | The Comedy Of Errors | 6.30pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01458 831 361

The Courts Garden, Holt - 4th June | Macbeth | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 0844 249 1895

Ashton Court, Bristol - 5th June | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Painswick Rococo Garden, Painswick - 6th June | The Comedy Of Errors | 6.30pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01452 813 204

Painswick Rococo Garden, Painswick - 7th June | Macbeth | 6.30pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01452 813 204

The Fleece Inn, Bretforton - 8th June | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01386 831 173

Elstow Abbey, Elstow - 12th June | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01234 264 177

Cottesbrooke Hall, Northampton - 13th June | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01604 505 808

The Dell, Royal Shakespeare Company (Stratford-upon-Avon) - 14th June | Macbeth | 1pm and 4pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 0844 800 1110

The Dell, Royal Shakespeare Company (Stratford-upon-Avon) - 15th June | The Comedy Of Errors | 12pm and 3pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 0844 800 1110

Leicester Guildhall, Leicester - 17th June | The Comedy Of Errors | 7.30pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 0116 253 2569

Thrumpton Hall, Thrumpton - 18th June | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 07796 956 556

Newark Castle, Newark - 19th June | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01636 650 000

South Scarle Community Centre, South Scarle - 20th June | Macbeth | 8pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01636 892 056

Gainsborough Old Hall, Gainsborough - 21st June | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01427 677 348

South Street Park Amphitheatre, Sheffield - 22nd June | The Comedy Of Errors | 5pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 0114 221 1900

Recycle Bikes, Sheffield - 23rd June | Macbeth | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 0144 250 7717

Ordsall Hall, Salford - 24th June | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 0161 872 0251

Ordsall Hall, Salford - 25th June | Macbeth | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 0161 872 0251

Rufford Old Hall, Ormskirk - 27th June | Macbeth | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 0844 815 5635

Hoghton Tower, Preston - 28th June | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 0844 888 9991

Hoghton Tower, Preston - 29th June | Macbeth | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 0844 888 9991

Richard Whiteley Theatre, Giggleswick - 30th June | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01729 893 180

Bolton Castle, Leyburn - 1st July | The Comedy Of Errors | 7.30pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01969 623 981

Skipton Castle, Skipton - 2nd July | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01756 792 442

Hardcastle Crags, Hebden Bridge - 3rd July | Macbeth | 6.30pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 0844 249 1895

Wentworth Castle, Barnsley - 4th July | The Comedy Of Errors | 6.45pm

Harewood House, Leeds - 5th July | Play TBC | Time TBC

Harewood House, Leeds - 6th July | Play TBC | Time TBC

Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York - 8th July | The Comedy Of Errors | 7.30pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01904 654 818

Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York - 9th July | Macbeth | 7.30pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01904 654 818

The Bivouac, Masham - 10th July | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01765 535 020

Raby Castle, Darlington - 11th July | The Comedy Of Errors | 6.30pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01833 660 202

The Cycle Hub, Newcastle - 12th July | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 0191 276 7250

Crook Hall, Durham - 13th July | Macbeth | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 0191 384 8028

Crook Hall, Durham - 14th July | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 0191 384 8028

Whalton Manor, Morpeth - 16th July | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01665 606 515

Ford Castle, Berwick-upon-Tweed - 18th July | Macbeth | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01665 606 515

Bowhill House, Selkirk - 19th July | Macbeth | 6pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01750 22204

Kailzie Gardens, Peebles - 20th July | Macbeth | 6.30pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01721 720 007

New Lanark WHS, Lanark - 21st July | The Comedy Of Errors | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01555 661 345

The Helix, Falkirk - 25th July | Macbeth | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01324 590 900

Hatton Castle, Newtyle - 26th July | The Comedy Of Errors | 6pm

Booking and Info - Email: hattoncastle@gmail.com

Dunsinane Hill, Dunsinnan - 27th July | Macbeth | 6pm

Booking and Info - Email: hattoncastle@gmail.com

Coupar Angus - 30th August | July | 7.30pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01828 628 388

HM Frigate Unicorn, Dundee - 31st July | The Comedy Of Errors | 8pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01382 200 900

Cambo Estate, St Andrews - 1st August | Macbeth | 7pm

Booking and Info - Phone: 01333 450 054

Fingask Castle, Rait - 3rd August | The Comedy Of Errors | 4pm

Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh - 6th August | The Comedy Of Errors | 6.45pm

Booking and Info - edfringe.com

Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh - 7th August | The Comedy Of Errors | 6.45pm

Booking and Info - edfringe.com

Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh - 8th August | The Comedy Of Errors | 6.45pm

Booking and Info - edfringe.com

Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh - 9th August | The Comedy Of Errors | 6.45pm

Booking and Info - edfringe.com

Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh - 10th August | The Comedy Of Errors | 6.45pm

Booking and Info - edfringe.com