“Pantaloons - Meets - Monty Python! Loads of Fun!"

THE AGE

20 Dec 2025 to 17 Jan 2026

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne - Southern Cross Lawn

20 Dec 2025 to 17 Jan 2026

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne - Southern Cross Lawn

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About the Show

Celebrating the most comical characters Shakespeare ever invented. Follow “The Mechanicals,” from A Midsummer Night’s Dream on a whirlwind adventure where "pantaloons meet Python," in Peter Quince Presents: SHAKESPEARE'S BEST BITS

It's a romp, that’s bound to have you in stitches as Shakespeare's artisans of laughter - Peter Quince, Snug, Nick Bottom, Francis Flute, Tom Snout and Robin Starveling lead you through a slick and silly series of blunders and nonsense. Vying to perform at the Duke's wedding, they look to a bloke called Bill’s collected works for inspiration. These fools will have you rolling in the grass with laughter as you watch them workshop some of the Bard's most famous material.

If you loved A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this is the perfect show for you this summer! It’s Shakespeare unshackled, unplugged and loads of fun for the thespian or tradie in all of us!

Kids Go Free before New Year’s! 🎉
For performances of Shakespeare’s Best Bits before 31 December, kids go free. Celebrate summer theatre in the gardens - perfect family fun under the stars!

At a glance

Dates

20 Dec 2025 to 17 Jan 2026

Perfect for

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Running Time

2 Hours

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All bookings include a $5.50 transaction fee to help support our ticketing system and administration.

Group bookings

Price Type

Peak

Off Peak

Admission

Group of 4

Preview

Visual story

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Ticket Exchanges

You can exchange your tickets up to 3 hours prior to the performance time.

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synopsis

Cast

Alex Cooper

Francis Flute - The Bellows Mender

Peter Houghton

Nick Bottom - The Weaver

Jackson McGovern

Peter Quince - The Carpenter

Hugh Sexton

Robin Starveling - The Tailer

Maddie Somers

Snug - The Joiner

Scott Jackson

Tom Snout - The Tinker

Henny Walters

Understudy

creatives

Glenn Elston OAM

Adapted and Written by

Paul Norton

Musical Director

Sue-Ellen Shook

Choreographer