The Delaware Shakespeare Community Tour aims to bring professional Shakespeare performances to the full spectrum of humanity in our state.
The centerpiece of the tour are free performances at community centers, detention facilities, adult high schools, and other non-traditional locations where people may have limited access to professional arts experiences.
Best of all: the majority of our tour stops are open to the general public! We would love to see YOU at these powerful performances!
2025 TOUR SCHEDULE – The Two Gentlemen of Verona
FREE PERFORMANCES
Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 5:30 PM: Red Clay Adult Education Center, Wilmington. Reserve HERE.
Thursday, Oct. 2 at 6:00 PM: Christina Cultural Arts Center, Wilmington. Reserve HERE.
Saturday, Oct. 4 at 2:00 PM: Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew & Matthew (SsAM), Wilmington. Reserve HERE.
Friday, Oct. 10 at 6:00 PM: Jefferson Street Center at Hanover Presbyterian Church, Wilmington. Reserve HERE.
Saturday, Oct. 11 at 2:00 PM: Kent County Library, Dover. Learn more HERE.
Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 5:00 PM: Lewes Library, Lewes. Learn more HERE.
TICKETED PERFORMANCES
Note: Purchasing a ticket helps offset the costs for performances Del Shakes provides at community spaces such as prisons and libraries. Your support empowers us to offer free theatre for those who often face a financial or circumstantial barrier that make it difficult to experience Shakespeare.
Friday, Oct. 3 at 7:00 PM: Salesianum High School, Wilmington. Purchase tickets HERE.
Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 PM: Pig Iron Theatre Company, Philadelphia. Purchase tickets HERE.
Friday, Oct. 17 at 7:00 PM: Painted Stave Distilling, Smyrna. Purchase tickets HERE.
Saturday, Oct. 18 at 6:00 PM (refreshments) and 7:00 PM (performance): Wilmington, DE; exact location TBA. Purchase tickets HERE.
CLOSED PERFORMANCES
Sunday, Oct. 5 at 1:30 PM: Baylor Women’s Correctional Facility, New Castle
Thursday, Oct. 9 at 12:00 PM: Easterseals, New Castle
Thursday, Oct. 16 at 11:30 AM: Easterseals, Dover
Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 3:00 PM: Stockley Center, Georgetown
Community Tour History
All tours have served locations in Kent, New Castle and Sussex Counties.
2016 – Pericles, Prince of Tyre
12 performances serving 619 individuals
2017 – As You Like It
13 performances serving 845 individuals
2018 – The Merchant of Venice
18 performances serving 1170 individuals
2019 – Romeo and Juliet
18 performances serving 1242 individuals
2022 – Twelfth Night, O Lo Que Quierias
16 performances serving 593 individuals
2023 – Cymbeline
2024 – The Winter’s Tale
The feedback Delaware Shakespeare has received from audience members is extraordinary. A sampling of comments from Pericles audiences members is included below.
“I would like to thank you very much for being willing to share your talent with us. I am happy that I was open about coming to see the play. I never in a million years thought I would see a Shakespeare play and boy was it a good one. I will follow the Festival upon my release because I will go to see another one.”
– Inmate, Baylor Women’s Correctional Institute
“I felt like Shakespeare wanted to send us angels, to tell us we’re all kings and queens.”
– Patient, Delaware Psychiatric Center
“This was really nice. It was so nice that you came right here to us, because a lot of us, we can’t leave here. So we don’t get to do things like this.”
– Patient, Delaware Psychiatric Center
“I had never seen some of these boys smile and laugh before…you just don’t see it often. And I would say the same for some of the staff! So that was something really nice, to be able to smile and laugh together, for a change.”
– Staff Member, Ferris School for Boys
“I’m not a theater guy, I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen or read anything to do with Shakespeare since high school, which has been a looong time. But okay, you got me. I really liked the parts with action and music, and it was just really good overall. I might just have to come out in the summer to see the next one.”
– Audience Member, Absalom Jones Senior Center
