About York Shakespeare Project

York Shakespeare Project was established in 2001 as an unincorporated association registered as a charity, with a mission to perform all of Shakespeare’s known plays in York over a period of 20 years.  This mission was successfully completed with our production of The Tempest in 2022.

However, the YSP story does not end there!  In 2023 we entered an exciting new phase of the project which aims to perform the plays of Shakespeare alongside the greatest works of his contemporaries over a period of 25 years.

Our most recent production was Henry VI, which was performed at Theatre@41, York in April 2025 and directed by Irwin Appel.  Previous productions have included The Two Gentlemen of Verona, directed by Tempest Wisdom at Theatre@41 in October 2024; The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Maggie Smales at Theatre@41 in April 2024; Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II, our first play by one of Shakespeare’s contemporaries, performed at Theatre@41 in October 2023 and directed by Tom Straszewski; Richard III at Friargate Theatre in April 2023, directed by Daniel Roy Connelly; The Tempest, directed by Philip Parr, which toured North and East Yorkshire prior to a final performance at York Theatre Royal; Macbeth at Theatre@41, directed by Leo Doulton; Twelfth Night directed by Mark Smith at York Theatre Royal Studio; an all-female Henry V directed by Maggie Smales (The York Press ‘York Play of the Year 2015’); an ‘original practices’ production of Cymbeline, directed by Ben Prusiner; and The Two Noble Kinsmen directed by Tom Straszewski.

If you would like to be kept up to date on all things to do with the York Shakespeare Project, you can join our mailing list by clicking here. Alternatively, why not join the Project, and support us in our mission? For any other reason, including booking an audition or working on a production, contact us at info@yorkshakespeareproject.org.