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Behind the scenes: Greg Wyatt Sculptures

Behind-the-scenes access in the run up to the grand opening of Shakespeare's New Place in Summer 2016.

A figure draws aside a curtain to reveal the Midsummer Night's Dream sculpture - a very prominent asses head is being nuzzled by Titania; above is a moon with a slightly shocked face, and there are suggestions of trees and mushrooms of the enchanted wood.

Today we celebrate a feature of Shakespeare’s New Place that has been literally under wraps for months while gardening and construction works have gone one: that’s right, say hello once more to the Gregg Wyatt sculptures!

These nine bronze sculptures, each interpreting one of Shakespeare’s plays, were a generous donation co-sponsored by the American Friends of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. The plays and characters represented are ‘The Tempest’, ‘Hamlet’, ‘King Lear’, ‘Julius Caesar’, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, ‘Henry IV’, ‘Falstaff’, ‘Macbeth’, and ‘The Winter’s Tale’. Sculptor Greg Wyatt created the pieces over the course of almost a decade. Each one is striking in a different way, and although they’re man-made all of them possess an organic, tree-like quality that’s beautifully in keeping with their garden setting.

They all bear a panel of text, an excerpt from the subject play, but that is where concrete similarities end. From the stormy waters of ‘The Tempest’ to the sculpture-within-a-sculpture of ‘The Winter’s Tale’, these thought-provoking works are yet another expression of the breadth and depth of Shakespeare’s experience and influence. We’re looking forward to seeing them on show to the public once more, and we hope you are too.


Shakespeare’s New Place opens Summer 2016. Come and walk in Shakespeare's footsteps and meet the man behind the works in a fascinating new exhibition. Discover beautiful gardens and specially-commissioned artworks.

Find out more about Shakespeare's New Place.

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