The NorthEast Shakespeare Ensemble (NESE) is a non-profit professional theatre company formed to bring quality classic theatre to scenic New Hampshire each summer. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.

NESE is the brainchild of John Goodlin,a resident of New London, NH, who has extensive experience in regional theatre in the United States, including Shakespeare Festivals in Georgia and Virginia, and in Canada with the Stratford Shakespearean Festival and the Stratford Touring Company. William Michael Maher is NESE's Managing Director.

In 2004, our inaugural presentation of Twelfth Night ran for 14 performances with growing audiences and broad acclaim. We devoted our second season to growth and outreach, as well as producing our first non-Shakespeare classic, The Gin Game in New London, NH. In June, 2006, we staged the magical and enchanting A Midsummer Night's Dream. In 2007 we tackled what many consider Shakespeare's greatest tragedy-- King Lear--receiving high praise for an ambitious and challenging production. In 2008 our production of Much Ado About Nothing was high spirited and warmly received by enthusiastic audiences.

In 2009, with Comedy and Godot, NESE offered its first "double bill" season. And in future years, NESE plans multiple productions each summer, including the works of other classic playwrights. For our community, Shakespeare and other classics will no longer be merely "such stuff as dreams are made on." Live theatre will be a respected and valued part of our summers.