The Bard and a bhaji!

Budding New Vic Borderlines performers are set to wow diners with three acts of Shakespeare presented during a three course meal at a Newcastle restaurant.

Diners at Koh-i-Noor Indian Restaurant will be taken on a journey of mirth and merriment on 13 and 14 August when members of Young People’s Theatre Company present A Midsummer Night’s Dream with a Bollywood twist.

Sixteen young people have teamed up for the project which will see a cast of 13 entertain diners while they eat, while three other members will work behind the scenes.

New Vic Borderlines Practitioner, Filiz Ozcan, said: “Last year we did Romeo and Juliet and it was an enormous success with the group.

“I wanted to do something similar with the company which celebrated diversity and different cultures so that is where the idea of a Bollywood themed A Midsummer Night’s Dream came from – we’re just taking it one step further by performing in a restaurant!”

As part of New Vic Borderlines, Young People’s Theatre Company works with some of Staffordshire’s most vulnerable youngsters.

The group’s latest project follows a busy few months, with members only having recently returned from Poland where they represented the UK at the international Without Frontiers Youth Festival.

Company member, Gareth Hall, is set to take on the role of Flute in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

He said: “I am really happy to be doing Shakespeare again – we did Romeo and Juliet last year and it was a great success.

“I’ve never performed in a restaurant or café before but it’s a great opportunity to do something a little bit different.”

Filiz added: “Young People’s Theatre Company has come a long way – we started off being quite a small group but it is going from strength to strength.”

Performances at Koh-i-Noor, 7 Liverpool Road, Newcastle, take place at 6.30pm and 8.30pm on Monday and Tuesday 13 and 14 August. 

Menu prices, for three course meals, are as follows: meat £12, vegetarian £12 and seafood £14. There will be a discount at the 6.30pm Monday 13 August performance when all menus will be £10.

The company will also perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Cheeky Monkeys Café in Brampton Park, Newcastle, on Friday 10 August at 6pm.

Tickets for performances at both Koh-i-Noor and Cheeky Monkeys Café are free but limited so must be booked by telephoning the New Vic box office on 01782 717962.