Wessex Actors Company is a new professional theatre company which started in 2010.
Wessex Actors Company (WAC) was founded by Jo Puttick with the initial aim of producing professional theatre each summer in the open air, principally in Dorset.
WAC are aware that there was a previous company called 'The Wessex Actors Company', based in Somerset, that ran under the artistic directorship of Michael Barry from 1993-2006 before it closed. Michael has kindly given WAC his blessing to produce under the same name.
Our intention is to give first class theatre as entertainment, whilst also enhancing audiences’ understanding and perception of the play being enjoyed.
Working as our own separate theatre company will give us total freedom in the decisions we take on which plays to present, how they are presented, which period to set them in and what age of costumes to dress them in.
Actors will be experienced, local and professional, rather than being brought in from ‘outside’, as we believe there is so much local talent that deserves to be showcased.
WAC will offer a variety of plays, but will be concentrating on classics, both of many years standing and of more recent times.
The concept is that our audiences will come to our venues to enjoy a picnic prior to being entertained by first class drama.
WAC will offer both matinees and evening performances so as to encourage all ages to come and enjoy what we have to offer. We will particularly welcome parents and guardians introducing younger audience members to theatre, with the aim of showing them that theatre-going can be great fun.
Like all theatre companies WAC is going to find the going tough financially and we welcome approaches from individuals and companies who may wish to consider sponsoring our efforts to bring first class professional theatre to Dorset from their own local theatrical company. Their generosity will of course receive suitable prominence in our programmes.
Our first production, Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ was a great success and we look forward to many more years of exciting theatre!
