English Theatre of Rome - Pop Up Shakespeare

English-language theatre in Rome

The English Theatre of Rome is the capital's leading English-speaking theatre company. Founded in 1996 by Gaby Ford, it has spent thirty years staging classics and contemporary plays in Rome, from Hamlet (2016) and Richard III (2018) to an all-female Macbeth (2022) and the Roman premiere of Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice (2023). The company is a key reference point for international actors, directors, and technicians living in Italy, as well as for audiences wishing to enjoy performances in English without leaving the centre of Rome.

What is Pop Up Shakespeare

The Pop Up Shakespeare summer format was born from a simple idea: to take Shakespeare out of the theatre and into the city's gardens and green spaces, using minimal scenery and a setup that can be assembled and dismantled in just a few hours. Hence the name, which evokes the idea of a show that "pops up" for one night in a different location. Each performance takes place outdoors, lasts about two hours, and has free admission: a choice that makes the festival one of the most accessible events of the Roman summer.

The festival venues

The venues change every night, showcasing parts of Rome rarely visited by mass tourism. The Casale dei Cedrati, at via Aurelia Antica 219, is located within Villa Doria Pamphilj, the city's largest historic park, between Monteverde and the via Aurelia. The citrus courtyard of the John Cabot University, on via della Lungara in Trastevere, is an intimate university space that hosts performances as part of the Italy Reads cultural programme. Parco Marconi, along the Tiber near Lungotevere di Pietra Papa, hosts the performances included in the Notti di Cinema festival programme.

An international audience

The festival attracts a diverse crowd: the English-speaking community living in Rome, students from the city's American campuses, Italian fans of Elizabethan theatre, and passing visitors. The acting in English, combined with the clarity of the direction and the choral nature of Shakespeare's comedies, makes the plays accessible even to those who are not perfectly fluent in the language. The atmosphere is that of informal theatre in the park: arrive a little early, sit on the grass or on the chairs provided, and watch the show begin at sunset.

Rome in summer, among parks and courtyards

The Municipality of Rome, in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital and in the heart of Lazio, experiences a season of widespread events in July that bring historic villas, riverbanks, and neighbourhood squares to life. Pop Up Shakespeare fits into this fabric with a precise identity: spoken theatre, in the original language, free and in the open air. For those staying in the city, it is also an opportunity to discover districts like Monteverde and Trastevere in their evening attire and to cross Villa Doria Pamphilj at the most beautiful time of day.

Quick practical information

• Theatre festival in English, produced by the English Theatre of Rome
• Open-air performances, lasting about two hours
• Free admission to all shows
• Multiple venues including Villa Doria Pamphilj, Trastevere, and Parco Marconi
• Booking is recommended as places are limited