AMBITIOUS plans to stage a medieval fair and open air performances of Shakespeare’s Henry V, to mark the London 2012 Olympic Games, are taking shape.

The idea was the brainchild of stained glassmaker Hugh Wootton from Albany Park.

He has dreamed of staging a play in the natural amphitheatre on the site of the former Footscray Place in Foots Cray Meadows, North Cray.

Mr Wootton has been given the green light from Bexley Council to begin planning the event and he has set up a non-profit making company Bexley Open Air Theatre Events Ltd (BOATE) to run it.

He has already persuaded four local people to join the organising committee.

These include Michael Heath, chairman of the Friends of Foots Cray Meadows, which cares for the environment of the meadows and he also has some experience of event managment.

Also on the committee is Garry Taylor, one of the organisers of the Erith Riverside Festival; John Hart, production co-ordinator for Erith Playhouse; Wendy Reynolds, a local director with expertise in costume and set design and stage and set designer/ builder Peter Homan.

A medieval seige society has been booked for the July 2012 event which will set up a medieval-style village in the meadows and mock skirmishes and battles throughout the day.

Its members will also be taking part in the play as Mr Wootton, who will direct it, plans to re-enact the battle scene.

There will also be Morris dancing, art and craft stalls and a variety of other performers throughout the two days.

Mr Wootton said: “I believe the site of Footscray Place and the scale we intend this play on, will make it unique in the sense that it has never been done like this before.

How to get involved

THERE will be plenty of scope for local people to get involved in the event.

Bexley Open Air Theatre Events (BOATE) is looking for local groups and volunteers to help.

It wants people to take the roles of English and French soldiers, who will get professional combat training to take part in the play’s battle scene.

BOATE will also be organising fundraising events to finance the venture, as well as applying for grants.

Approaches have already been made to Cleeve Park School whose grounds border the meadows and Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance in Sidcup, about getting involved.

On the Easter weekend of April 23 and April 24 , coincidentally also St George’s Day and the date of Shakespeare’s death, BOATE is holding open days in the meadows for people to see the site, talk through the plans and sign up to be part of the team.

To get involved, call 020 8309 5678 or email info@specialistglassco.co.uk