Orange Tree Theatre has announced a major outdoor Shakespeare season on Richmond Hill this summer as part of a new collaboration with Guildford Shakespeare Company.

The critically acclaimed theatre company has revealed its 2026 summer season, which will see productions of Love's Labour's Lost and Much Ado About Nothing performed in the gardens of Thomas's College from 31 July to 22 August.

The Richmond performances follow an earlier run in Guildford and will form part of "OT on the Hill", marking the Orange Tree's first visit to the Thomas's College gardens.

The productions are being directed by Tom Littler, Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive of the Orange Tree Theatre, which won The Stage's Theatre of the Year Award in 2025.

Littler will present the two Shakespeare comedies as one connected story set across two summers – 1939 and 1945 – allowing audiences to follow the same characters over time as they navigate love, separation and reunion around the backdrop of the Second World War.

Both productions will be performed by a single ensemble cast featuring Phoebe Pryce, James Sheldon, Joëlle Brabban, Sally Cheng, Jeremy Lloyd, Chirag Bendict Lobo and Owen Oakeshott.

Guildford Shakespeare Company co-founder Matt Pinches said the prospect of staging the two much-loved comedies in an outdoor setting was "incredibly exciting" for the company's 20th anniversary year.

Littler added: "I am delighted to help celebrate the 20th birthday of one of my favourite theatre companies.

advertisement

"I'm excited by the opportunity to return to these plays and tie them together as a rich and sweeping narrative that sees love gained, lost, and, against the odds, won again.

"It's a treat to share these plays with audiences in London too – in the Orange Tree's first visit to the gardens of Thomas's College on Richmond Hill."

To find out more about Love's Labour's Lost click here and for Much Ado About Nothing, click here.

Orange Tree Theatre is a sponsor of Nub News. Without sponsors our online newspaper would not be possible. Thank you.