History

ETG’s rich history began in 1957 when a group of students, which included Sir Derek Jacobi and Sir Trevor Nunn, travelled across Switzerland with their production of Romeo and Juliet.

The tour then consisted of half a dozen actors and a set transported in two fruit vans, but was such a success that we have toured Europe with a Shakespeare Play on an annual basis since. Tour alumnus Stephen Fry discussed his experiences in his book, The Fry Chronicles:

“In the Christmas vacation, I accompanied the European Theatre Group on a tour of the Continent. The ETG had been founded by Derek Jacobi, Trevor Nunn and others in 1957 … and had earned a lamentable reputation for its frequent lapses from high seriousness and decorum … amateur performances which a pro would be proud of.”

Since then, we have grown in size and ambition and are now a self-sufficient theatrical company, travelling by coach with professional equipment and an experimental set.

• 2018 – Othello
• 2017 – Much Ado About Nothing 
• 2016 – Hamlet
• 2015 – Twelfth Night
• 2014 – Macbeth
• 2013 – Richard III
• 2012 – The Merchant of Venice
• 2011 – King Lear
• 2010 – The Taming of the Shrew
• 2009 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• 2008 – Hamlet
• 2007 – Julius Caesar
• 2006 – Macbeth
• 2005 – The Taming of the Shrew
• 2004 – Romeo & Juliet
• 2003 – Much Ado About Nothing
• 2002 – Twelfth Night
• 2001 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• 2000 – The Tempest
• 1999 – The Winter’s Tale
• 1998 – Measure for Measure
• 1997 – Hamlet
• 1996 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• 1995 – Richard II
• 1994 – The Tempest
• 1993 – Othello
• 1992 – As You Like It
• 1991 – Henry V
• 1990 – King Lear
• 1989 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• 1988 – The Taming of the Shrew
• 1987 – Macbeth
• 1986 – Measure for Measure
• 1985 – Much Ado About Nothing
• 1984 – Twelfth Night
• 1983 – The Merry Wives of Windsor
• 1982 – Romeo and Juliet
• 1981 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• 1980 – The Taming of the Shrew
• 1979 – Macbeth
• 1978 – King Lear
• 1977 – Antony and Cleopatra
• 1976 – Julius Caesar
• 1975 – Romeo and Juliet
• 1974 – The Tempest
• 1973 – Hamlet
• 1972 – Macbeth
• 1971 – A Man for All Seasons
• 1970 – Much Ado About Nothing
• 1969 – Measure for Measure
• 1968 – As You Like It
• 1967 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• 1966 – Comedy of Errors
• 1965 – Cymbeline
• 1964 – The Merry Wives of Windsor
• 1963 – Love’s Labour’s Lost
• 1957 – Romeo and Juliet