York International Shakespeare Festival programme

We are pleased to be able to announce the 7th edition of the York International Shakespeare Festival will run 22 April – 4 May 2025, presenting a variety of arts and culture inspired by Shakespeare from all around the world.

2024 saw the 6th edition of the festival – after a return to in-person programming in 2023, we were thrilled to reconnect with all the York audiences and international lovers of Shakespeare.

International highlights include Debra Ann Byrd’s Becoming Othello from the US, an original co-created performance made by artists local to York and Ukraine, and artists from Japan, Poland, Bulgaria, and Turkey. The festival features World and UK premieres, storytelling in schools and libraries, book launches, seminars, lectures, and exhibitions.

Programme 2025
World and UK Premieres on Stages Across York
Exhibitions – Talks – Readings – Works in Progress
Full programme with tickets info : Programme 2025 – York International Shakespeare Festival

Tuesday, April 22

7:30 PM | Theatre@41
Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3: “I Am Myself Alone”
Presented by York Shakespeare Project

Wednesday, April 23

4:00 PM | York St John University Creative Centre Recital Room
Talk: The Murder of Gonzago
Pre-show talk by Boika Sokolova

5:00 PM | York St John University Creative Centre Recital Room
Reading: The Murder of Gonzago
European play reading in translation from Bulgaria
World Premiere

7:30 PM | Theatre@41
Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3: “I Am Myself Alone”
Presented by York Shakespeare Project

8:00 PM | The Den at Micklegate Social
Bill’s Birthday Karaoke
Celebrate Shakespeare’s Birthday with YISF & Bard at the Bar!

Thursday, April 24

7:30 PM | York St John University Creative Centre Auditorium
Re-Lording Richard 3.0
Presented by Philipp Sommer

7:30 PM | Theatre@41
Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3: “I Am Myself Alone”
Presented by York Shakespeare Project

Friday, April 25

6:00 PM | York St John University Creative Centre Recital Room
Talk: Codename Othello

7:30 PM | York St John University Creative Centre Recital Room
Reading: Codename Othello
European play reading in translation from Ukraine

7:30 PM | Theatre@41
Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3: “I Am Myself Alone”
Presented by York Shakespeare Project

Saturday, April 26

2:00 PM | York St John University Creative Centre Auditorium
A Midsummer Night’s Mischief
Presented by Hoglets Theatre

2:30 PM | Theatre@41
Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3: “I Am Myself Alone”
Presented by York Shakespeare Project

5:00 PM | York St John University Creative Centre Auditorium
A Conversation with Irwin Appel
Led by Dr. Anne-Marie Evans

7:30 PM | York St John University Creative Centre Auditorium
Ukraine/York Shakespeare Collaboration
Presented by York International Shakespeare Festival & D:Space

7:30 PM | Theatre@41
Henry VI Parts 1,2 & 3: “I Am Myself Alone”
Presented by York Shakespeare Project

Sunday, April 27

2:00 PM | York St John University Creative Centre Auditorium
Dance the Past
Learn Shakespearean dance with Lottie Adcock

Monday, April 28

8:30 PM | rise @ Bluebird Bakery, Acomb
HAMLET SHOW
An idea by Alexander Wright

Tuesday, April 29

10:00 AM – 5:30 PM | York St John University Creative Centre
Death by Hamlet
A full day of shows, talks, and workshops

10:00 AM | York St John University Creative Centre Auditorium
HAMLET SHOW
An idea by Alexander Wright

7:30 PM | Theatre@41
Alas! Poor Yorick
Presented by Ridiculusmus

Wednesday, April 30

7:30 PM | Theatre@41
Robert Sturua – Documentary Film
Presented by the Georgian Film Academy & Georgian Shakespeare Association

7:30 PM | Micklegate Social
HAMLET SHOW
An idea by Alexander Wright

Thursday, May 1

5:00 PM | York St John University Creative Centre Auditorium
Shakespeare Improved
Presented by Ryuta Minami & Ronan Paterson

7:30 PM | Theatre@41
The Whirligig of Time
Presented by Tortive Theatre

Friday, May 2

5:00 PM | York St John University
Gijsbreght van Aemstel
European play reading in translation from a Dutch contemporary of Shakespeare

7:30 PM | Theatre@41
Shakespeare’s Speakeasy

Saturday, May 3

10:30 AM – 4:30 PM | York St John University Creative Centre
ESRA Symposium

2:00 PM | York St John University Creative Centre Auditorium
Learlike – 2025 ShakeSphere Selection
Presented by Greensleeved

7:00 PM | York St John University Creative Centre Auditorium
Learlike – 2025 ShakeSphere Selection
Presented by Greensleeved

8:30 PM | Theatre@41
Festival Wrap Party
Hosted by comedian Adam Perrott (BBC New Comedy Awards 2024)

Sunday, May 4

3:00 PM – 6:00 PM | York St John University Creative Centre Auditorium
Drzic Day: Pinch Hoard | Venus and Adonis
European plays read in translation from Croatia

Exhibitions

York Explore – Central Library
International Graphic Shakespeare Competition
From April 12
A selection of winners from ten years of the competition, including Eve Jones from North Yorkshire.

York St John University Creative Centre Atrium
April 23 – May 4

Who’s There?: Hamlet Retrospective 2010-2025
Curated by Prof Nicoleta Cinpoes & Dr Sorin Cazacu
Exploring Hamlet in performance & translation over the past 15 years.

All exhibitions are free and open during venue hours.