Shakespeare BASH’D continues its annual tradition of warming our dark winter evenings with the words of the Bard of Avon. This year, they are performing the lesser-known The Two Noble Kinsmen. Directed by Co-Artistic Director James Wallis and starring Michael Man and Emilio Vieira, The Two Noble Kinsmen is a delight from start to finish!…
Theatre Rusticle is back in action with their production of William Shakespeare's The Tempest. Expertly directed by Allyson McMackon, this engaging production uses only five actors to tell the story of Shakespeare’s final play. Beautifully staged and brilliantly acted, The Tempest reminds me of why I love Shakespeare as much as I do. Jill Goranson…
The Bard’s Bus Tour is making one final voyage around Ontario this summer with Jeremy Smith and Steven Gallagher’s Living with Shakespeare. This entrancing look at Smith’s relationship with the works of the Bard is a fitting way to end the legacy of Driftwood’s travelling summer shows. Full of song, memories, and fun, Living with…
Summertime is traditionally full of outdoor production’s of Shakespeare’s works, but rarely are they about the Bard of Stratford himself. Dauntless City Theatre is doing just that with Vijay Padaki’s Shakespeare By Any Other Name in St. James Park. Directed by joey o’dael, this work looks at several aspects of Shakespeare’s influence in our current…
Nestled beside the Humber River, Little Avenue Memorial Park is currently home to Shakespeare in Action’s production of Otîhêw. Otîhêw is a Cree-Métis re-imagining of Shakespeare’s Othello expertly written by PJ Prudat and directed by Lisa Nasson. Everything from the outdoor setting to the beautiful props and costumes to the powerhouse performances make it a…
The summer wouldn’t be complete without a season of Shakespeare in High Park from Canadian Stage! This is their 40th season, and the 10th time in those 40 years where A Midsummer Night’s Dream has taken centre stage. This year’s production, directed by Jamie Robinson, keeps the tradition vibrantly alive. Featuring an impressive cast and…
It seems perfectly fitting that the first play Shakespeare BASH’d is producing after the COVID-19 lockdowns is one also written during a plague in London. The Tragedy of King Lear has been several years in the making, and it was most definitely worth the wait. Directed by James Wallis and starring Stratford Festival favourite Scott…
Since their season announcement, I’ve been looking forward to seeing Red Velvet at Crow’s Theatre and it certainly did not disappoint. Written by Lolita Chakrabarti and directed by Cherissa Richards, Red Velvet looks at the astounding career of Ira Aldridge, the first Black man to play Othello in London. Featuring an absolutely stellar cast, Red…
Real Canaan Theatre’s inaugural production The Merchant of Venice is a fascinating take on the Shakespearean classic. Directed by Christopher Lucas, who is also the Artistic Director of the company, The Merchant of Venice uses a small but mighty cast to bring Shakespeare’s work to life. With plenty of fresh ideas to chew on, The…
Soulpepper theatre is offering a unique experience for audiences at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts in the heart of the historic Distillery District. They’re currently producing Erin Shields’ Queen Goneril (directed by Soulpepper’s Artistic Director Weyni Mengesha), a prequel to Shakespeare’s classic King Lear (directed by Kim Collier). While both plays could easily…
A View from the Box 