The Bardlings
Current Season

The Bardlings’ Spring 2023 performance at the Southern Shakespeare Festival in Cascades Park will be a one-hour adaptation of the romantic comedy As You Like It. This pastoral comedy will bring Shakespeare to life for all ages and serve as a light-hearted opening act to the mainstage production on Saturday and Sunday of the Festival.
Watch as newly lovestruck Rosalind flees an oppressive court for the Forest of Arden, where she finds her beloved Orlando has also fled! Disguised as a shepherd boy, Rosalind teaches Orlando how to woo and love with the help of friends and forest dwellers. This production features original music by Jason Chimonides, which was used in the 1998 production of As You Like It.
AUDITION
Middle and high school students who join the company don’t just put on a show: they also gain skills, collaborate with peers, and have fun during weekly meetings, workshops, rehearsals, and a field trip before the final performance!
The Bardlings audition for each fall and spring semester. Generally:
- Students should prepare a 60 second or less memorized monologue and expect to cold read sides from the show.
- Students will also be asked to complete an audition form with parent contact information and conflicts between the audition date and the showcase performances.
In spring 2023, the Bardlings will meet on Mondays and Thursdays from 5-7 PM at Christ Classical Academy (2205 Thomasville Road), and/or the SSC offices and warehouse (136 Progress Drive on TCC’s campus) or Cascades Park (1001 South Gadsden) and especially during Tech Week (starting on May 8th) as the showcase performances approach. A mandatory parent meeting on January 26 will outline the rehearsal schedule and more for students selected to participate.
Please note that the Bardlings audition each semester, and admittance into a previous semester does not guarantee placement in the future. Please see below for other FAQ and contact Bardlings director Robin Jackson with any further questions!
The Bardlings are Southern Shakespeare Company’s junior acting company composed of middle and high school students.
The Bardlings perform twice a year with a production in the Fall and a performance at the Southern Shakespeare Festival in the Spring.
They also engage with workshops, guest lectures, and field trips to develop their skills and expand their knowledge of theatre throughout the year.
For the latest on the Bardlings’ projects and performances…

Photo credit: Bob Howard

Photo credit: Bob Howard

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Financial assistance is available; reach out to robin@southernshakes.org to inquire.
Past Seasons
2021-2022
Zombie Shakespeare tells the fantastical story of a troupe of fairy tale characters who are tired of their stories, so they go dig up the grave of literature’s best storyteller, William Shakespeare himself. Shakespeare’s works come to life as each fairy tale character is transported into one of his plays as they search for their new story.
This family-friendly comedy showcased some of the Bard’s most famous scenes and is a perfect exploration of his characters with a fun twist.
The Bardlings’ Spring 2022 performance at the Southern Shakespeare Festival in Cascades Park brought audiences back to Shakespeare’s works with the infamous Romeo & Juliet. This abridged version of the star crossed lovers’ tale showcased The Bardlings’ technical ability to create productions that bring traditional Shakespeare to life for all ages.
2020-2021