Shakespeare in an hour and 15 minutes, without the boring bits, might sound like heaven to some and sacrilege to others, but to Nick Green it was business.

The director and co-founder of the Oxford Shakespeare Company, who is currently preparing for Wilderness Festival when we speak, said the line culling did cause him a few sleepless nights, but he knew it was for the greater good.

Because while the rest of us organise our tents, glitter and hand sanitiser, he is debunking the entire Shakespeare production from Wadham to the Cornbury Estate where Love’s Labour’s Lost will be performed day and night.

It will be the OSC’s fourth year in the vast grounds of Wilderness and while Oxford’s love of all things Shakespeare shows no sign of abating, this is certainly a new, contemporary string to the OSC bow.

“It was always our intention to do something fun and light, which we could then take to Wilderness,” Nick explains. “We haven’t done Love’s Labour’s Lost for 12 years and when we revisited it remembered how funny it was. But it has a full and complicated dialogue that was very removed to today and does not translate well to a modern audience – more like a different language - which did concern us, because we knew it would put people off. So we have turned it into a really fast-paced show.And while

you have to honour Shakespeare’s scripts, we did not want to bore our audiences to death. I felt that it was the life of the independent production that matters."

Spending the rest of the summer in the splendour of Wadham’s grounds, Wilderness is something of an interlude for the merry crew when they debunk there next weekend.

"It’s a big adventure for us every year, leaving Oxford for Cornbury because we always want to do something a bit different and Wilderness always boasts so much theatre because people are always looking for something a bit different and we fit that bill. It’s all about having an experience or taking up a new activity – trying new things.

It took a while however, for Nick to feel comfortable with the format, OSC having to find their own working space at the bohemian festival

“We did worry at first that our audiences would be able to hear us against a back drop of constant music, but the further away from the main stages we went, into the forests and fields, the more peaceful it becomes and provides an incredible space to perform in."

As for the play itself, OSC have given Love’s Labour’s Lost a real 70s feel, both in the staging and costumes, the cast hunting through their attics for original vintage 70s clothes.

"A lot of us grew up in the 70s and while we hated it at the time," Peter laughs, "we now view the whole era through rose-tinted glasses because of the fashion and music. We wanted to capture that and it seemed to match the light, fun vibe of Love’s Labour’s Lost, that sense of fashion and frivolity. So the play also has a great soundtrack."

And how much of the staging is a reaction against the increasingly modern and alternative Shakespeare productions being performed in Oxford this year? Is it more a case of 'if you can't beat 'em join 'em'?

“There is a lot of Shakespeare in Oxford at the moment, Nick concedes, "but for me the more the merrier. It means Oxford is becoming known for something really special and brings people in.

"And while yes at some point we might need to return to a more traditional production, this was perfect for this year - a contrast with what’s going on around you.

"And comedy should be given free rein, and shouldn’t be fixed to this line or whether that person is wearing tights and we are really proud of our production. It’s fun, unexpected, the music is brilliant, and the setting is beautiful. As far as open air theatre theatre goes we couldn’t wish for two greater performing environments.

OSC is clearly on the right tracks then? "Performing at Wadham still really excites us and over the past few years we have felt more engaged than ever and in the last three to four years have felt much more confident and comfortable in ourselves and our productions.

"After 12 years we are still full of ambitions for OSC. Ideally we would like a permanent site to perform in, that is our ultimate ambition, but otherwise we are delighted with the responses to Love's Labour's Lost, which have been incredible."

So for those venturing to Wilderness what would he say? “Bring a picnic and come and see our brilliant show. It’s great fun and a easy way to relax and have a laugh in a really special place where you can enjoy Shakespeare properly. And it;s only one hour and 15 minutes long. Did I mention that?"