About

The Winters Tale by William Shakespeare at Copped Hall

The Greek Theatre Players

Copped Hall, Crown Hill, Epping. Use postcode CM16 5HR

Sunday 23rd July

Cost

£15.00 per person when tickets are bought “In Advance” via Ticketsource.
£18.00 per person for tickets purchased on the day, on the door.

Gates will open at 2.00pm for a 3.00pm start. If it is raining, the performance will be performed inside the Mansion. Refreshments, including tea, coffee and homemade cakes will be available. The Copped Hall shop will be open as will be our second-hand bookshop.
NO DOGS will be allowed at this year’s performance.

Location

The Gardens, probably on the West Front but possibly on the Lower terraces and Great Lawn areas. The Gardens are undulating/uneven lawn surfaces with some paths on a sloping surface in some parts. Wheelchair users who may be interested in attending, should contact the Box Office to assess the suitability of this event.

Description

One of Shakespeare’s final plays, The Winter’s Tale is a romantic comedy with elements of tragedy.

The play opens with Leontes, the king of Sicilia, entertaining his old friend Polixenes, the king of Bohemia. Leontes jealously mistakes the courtesy between his wife, Hermione, and Polixenes as a sign of Hermione’s adultery with him. In a fit of jealousy, he attempts to have Polixenes killed, but Polixenes escapes with Camillo, Leontes’ faithful counsellor, whom Leontes has sent to kill him. The pregnant Hermione is then publicly humiliated and thrown in jail, despite her protests of innocence. When the child, a girl, is born, Leontes rejects the child out of hand and gives her over to Antigonus, the husband of Hermione’s attendant Paulina.

What will become of them all?

The Greek Theatre Players are delighted to bring this famous Shakespearian play to Copped Hall for their seventeenth production at this historic venue, presented in their long-established, traditionally costumed style. Early booking is recommended for this popular event.

Event Queries?

Please contact the Box Office or Trust members regarding these events
or email: events@coppedhalltrust.org.uk

Buy Tickets

This is a ticket only event. Tickets are only available via Ticketsource:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/coppedhallevents
or by clicking the logo below.
View the event, pay and print your tickets. 
Both debit and credit cards may be used.

If you are having problems with buying tickets via Ticketsource, please contact our Box Office on 07749 397932. Alternatively you may email the Box Office on tickets@coppedhalltrust.org.uk

 

About Copped Hall

The saving of Copped Hall has been described a number times as a miracle. In reality, it was achieved by a great deal of hard work against overwhelming odds.

Historic country houses in their parkland are one of the great cultural achievements of previous centuries. Very sadly by the 1950s, historic mansions like Copped Hall were being demolished at a rate of one every two and a half days. With their loss the centrepiece and purpose of the gardens, ancillary buildings and parkland was removed. Often all of these parts were destroyed. In the 1980s the planning authorities acted to preserve the excellent established qualities of Copped Hall and its surroundings by making them into a conservation area in 1984. English Heritage followed by listing the older parkland as Grade II*. After much campaigning the Conservators of Epping Forest (The City of London) purchased the freehold of the parkland in order to preserve and restore it. The specially formed Copped Hall Trust eventually purchased the mansion, stables and gardens in 1995.

The Conservators are committed to the restoration of the parkland, the reintroduction of animals and to the preservation of this important wildlife habitat.

In 1999 the Trust acquired the completely derelict Walled Kitchen Garden, one of the largest in Essex. After 13 years, all the undergrowth has been cleared from the garden and the glasshouses. This work has been largely carried out by volunteers. The garden is now mainly planted with produce sold locally and to visitors. One glasshouse has been restored with two others under way.

The Copped Hall Trust has made substantial progress in the last 17 years. The Racquets Court and the stables have been largely restored, together with other service buildings. Much work has been carried out clearing the gardens of non-original vegetation. Replacement trees have been planted and lawns re-seeded. Internally, the mansion is to be restored to its 1750s’ form, and since 2001 some of the roof and floor structures have been reinstated and essential structural repairs carried out. Since 1998 the Trust has been supported in its work by a Friends organisation which now has more than 1,000 members. From these members a very committed band of volunteers assists with all aspects of the project.