The Merry Wives of Windsor
23, 24, 25 & 26 September 2026 | 7:30pm – 10pm | Exeter Cathedral
The Cathedral Players are delighted to present Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor inside the magnificent setting of Exeter Cathedral – four performances that promise to be a most enjoyable evening with outrageous French accents, plenty of laughs and a touch of the ridiculous!
Legend has it that this play was commissioned by Queen Elizabeth I because she enjoyed the character Falstaff but wanted to see him in a comedic ‘love’ situation. Here, Sir John Falstaff, still an excessive toper and rogue, attempts to seduce not one, but two wives of Windsor. The ensuing mayhem is further exacerbated by a subplot in which the daughter of one of the wives, Anne Page, is assailed by several unsuitable suitors. The climax takes place in the countryside outside Windsor Castle with Falstaff convinced he is being tormented by a troupe of fairies, at the end of which several people have learnt valuable lessons – not all of them pleasant.
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About the Directors
James Stevenson and David Gunn-Johnson, who are co-directing this production, both have considerable theatrical experience. David has been involved in The Cathedral Players for decades, having also directed a number of plays for Exeter Little Theatre Company. James has been with The Cathedral Players since its rebirth in 2023, when he directed their production of Twelfth Night. Both James and David are delighted to be working together again – their enjoyment will be evident to attendees.