About Open Bar

We believe that Shakespeare can be enjoyed by everyone!

Open Bar Theatre Company have been creating hilarious, exciting and accessible Shakespeare in pub gardens since 2015. Founded by Nicky Diss and Vicky Gaskin, our aim is to create fun, totally understandable reinventions of the Bard’s best, where Shakespeare aficionados and first timers can sit side by side to enjoy a fantastic story and a fantastic experience.

Working alongside Fullers, and always staying true to Shakespeare’s text, our productions irrigate every possible laugh, cultural reference and character, to create rich and exciting adaptations in beautiful pub gardens.

What could be better than enjoying some amazing Shakespeare in a beautiful garden with a bevvy in your hand? The answer is nothing!

We have toured Twelfth Night, The Comedy of Errors, Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream touring to over 30 stunning Fullers gardens.

Who we are

Vicky Gaskin

Co-Founder & Artistic Director

Vicky is one of the co-founders and artistic directors of Open Bar Theatre Company and Open Book Theatre Company (Open Book adapts classic novels and performs them in libraries. Click here to go to the Open Book website). She is a producer, actor and writer. 

For Open Bar she has produced Twelfth Night, The Comedy of Errors, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and A Christmas Carol.

For Open Book she has produced Dracula, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Snow Queen, and adapted & produced The Jungle Book and A Christmas Carol.

Vicky has performed in & movement directed Twelfth Night, The Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Jungle Book. 

Nicky Diss

Co-Founder & Artistic Director

Nicky is one of the co-founders and artistic directors of Open Bar Theatre Company and Open Book Theatre Company (Open Book adapts classic novels and performs them in libraries. Click here to go to the Open Book website). She is a producer, director, actor and writer. 

For Open Bar she has produced & directed Twelfth Night, The Comedy of Errors, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and A Christmas Carol.

For Open Book she has adapted & directed Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Treasure Island, A Christmas Carol, The Ugly Duckling & Other Stories and Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles.

Nicky’s smallest but greatest productions so far are Luke & Robyn, who are already an integral part of the company!