2023 was the quatercentenary of the publication of the First Folio of Shakespeare’s plays, and by happy coincidence, the 450th anniversary of Middle Temple Hall where the first recorded performance of Twelfth Night took place.

It therefore seemed an auspicious time to revive the ‘Shakespeare Cup’, a friendly competition between Middle and Inner Temple which had been established in 2019 by our own Colin Witcher and Alexander Bryant of Inner Temple. The idea is that each Inn would perform an hour’s worth of Shakespeare in their own words. It might be a medley of scenes or, has happened so far, a filleted version of one of his plays.

In 2019, Middle performed a modern dress production of Cymbeline – not one of his better-known plays, but with sufficient content for a large cast from Middle who were able to exploit the layout of the venue in Inner Temple’s Garden to great effect. Despite a sterling Much Ado from our gallant opponents, Middle won the inaugural event, and all was set fair for a rematch on our side of the lane in 2020, until somewhat authentically, the plague shut all places of entertainment.

As stated, the thirst for a revival was such that Thomas Mallon (who had been a wonderfully sleazy Lachimo in Cymbeline) and Dan Proctor organised open auditions for Twelfth Night which was set at a Music Festival in ‘Illyrialand’. The second Shakespeare Cup took place in Hall on Wednesday 25 October 2023 before a distinguished panel of judges, headed by our own Master Alex Macqueen, ‘Neil’s Dad in the TV show The Inbetweeners’. Inner’s Drama Society put on a fresh production of Much Ado but after much debate Midde were announced the winners and retained the Cup.

After re-establishing the tradition, we were keen to ensure that it would become an annual event. Having been established as a summer fare (which henceforth it will remain) Inner kindly hosted us in their Hall on Tuesday 21 May 2024, with Middle providing a stripped back Tempest on a Love Island theme competing against Inner’s magical Dream. Modesty precludes me from identifying which Inn won on this occasion, but it was a hat trick and so we look forward to a further rematch next May in Middle Temple Hall.

My thanks to Thomas Mallon for his drive and vision, our Directors and Co-Directors Dan Proctor and Tom Chamberlain (highly memorable Caliban and Duke Orsino respectively). We are blessed with the wonderful Crispian Cartwright who would distinguish the stage at the National Theatre (a drunken Sir Toby Belch and a Magisterial Prospero). A huge thanks to everyone who performed in either (or both!) plays and who helped in any way, either with the sets, the costumes, the props, finding us rehearsal space or listening to our plans on both sides of the Temple. Big thanks to both judging panels who gave their time for free and gave us the benefit of their wisdom and further encouragement. Thanks are due to all the staff at both Inns, both Treasurers for permitting the Cup to take place, Greg Dorey and Sir Christopher Ghika for the use of their Halls, Kieron Beal KC for being a wonderful host on both evenings and Master Benet Brandreth for encouraging us to explore the meaning of the text and building our characters up from there. The Shakespeare Cup would be nothing without an audience, so I want to thank everyone who bought a ticket and came and cheered us on. 

The fourth Shakespeare Cup will take place in May 2025 in Middle Temple Hall (so please book early and often).

Cast list for The Tempest

Crispian Cartwright: Prospero

Katriona King: Miranda

Talia Zybutz: Ferdinand

Hannah Tickle: Ariel

Louise McCullough: Alonso

Thomas Chamberlain: Antonio

Michael Harwood: Sebastian

Michael McHardy: Gonzalo

Emma Richards: Botswain

Abigail Ryan: Stephano

Elli Brooks: Trinculo

Daniel Proctor: Caliban

Cast list for Twelfth Night

Louise McCullough: Sea Captain and Second Officer 

Yasmin Omotosho: Olivia 

Thomas Chamberlain: Duke Orsino

Victoria White: Antonio 

Abigail Ryan: Cesario / Viola 

Crispian Cartwright: Sir Toby Belch 

Peter Jacobs: Sebastian 

Hannah Tickle: Maria 

Carol Begley KC: Sir Andrew Aguecheek 

Katriona King: Clown and another character serving Duke Orsino 

Daniel Proctor: Feste and also Directed and composed music 

Thomas Mallon: Malvolio and producer 

Emma Richards: Valentine / First Officer / Clown and musician

Master Louise McCullough was Called in 1991 and appointed Master of the Bench in 2015. She practises Crime at Deka Chambers. Her interests include Advocacy training, Wellbeing at the Bar and encouraging younger people.