Shakespeare

This summer, what a better way to take a little stay-cation, than to explore the quaint town of Prescott — an hour away from Ottawa, and home to the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, which boats Canadian theatre talent from across the country. This year’s festival includes Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and a play for fans of mystery, Sherlock Holmes and the Vanishing Hour. Both productions will run from July 18-Aug. 9

Caplan and Gauthier: “We have always loved Fools productions, as they make Shakespeare approachable for all audiences. The Understudy created a fun and entertaining environment that had the audience laughing, clapping and participating.”

The dynamic duo of Toronto’s indie theatre scene, Julia Nish-Lapidus and James Wallis, are excited to announce their new season of performances at the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival all summer long, located in Prescott, Ontario.

Due to complex plots, characters and language, Shakespeare’s works can be off-putting. However, Shakespeare’s plays don’t have to be intimidating. Such is proven in local youth theatre group The Company of Adventurers’s all-girls production of Hamlet, which played at The Gladstone Theatre from May 16–18, and embraced a modern refresh of the timeless tragedy.

It’s been two long years, but a Company of Fools is back with its Torchlight Shakespeare in the Park summer tour. Until mid-August audiences can catch The Tempest at more than 40 local parks throughout the city and beyond.

December’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Nicholas Amott, an Ottawa writer and theatre actor, to transform popular songs into works of Shakespeare.

Brian Carroll: Lest you think this is merely a scholarly exercise, playwrights Becky McKercher and Sarah Thuswaldner have peppered the script with plenty of puns to indulge the groundlings.

Barb Popel: “An interesting angle on Richard III and sexual politics.”

Macbeth: Now with fire-dancing witches!

By Philip Caunter 55 minutes | Comedy | G Acting! It can be an intimidating thing even if you prepare, and if you have no idea what you’re doing it can be a nightmare. That’s the premise of this play, as the hapless George Spelvin (played by Rod Hagglund) gets tossed about on stage without […]

Jessica Green is a book addict and library card holder since the age of 3. She’s a librarian at the Ottawa Public Library and currently the Apartment613 Librarian-in-Residence, sharing a compendium of literary thoughts and tips. “Better a witty fool than a foolish wit” – Celebrating Shakespeare 400 Mention “Shakespeare” to most people and they […]

A year and a half ago, Jillian Keiley, the Artistic Director of English Theatre at the National Arts Centre, asked Calgary’s Old Trout Puppet Workshop to collaborate on a production of one of Shakespeare’s most loved comedies – Twelfth Night.  However, she wanted them to imagine the play without puppets.  As the Old Trouts say […]

Ah, summer in the city and the event listings are bursting with an embarrassment of riches. In the coming weeks there is not one but three theatre shows playing in the parks. We’ve rounded up the details for you in this handy list. A Company of Fools brings Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors to a […]

Review by Brian M. Carroll 175 minutes (including one intermission) | Historical Drama | G Like Shel Silverstein’s poem Hamlet as Told on the Streets, the Company of Fools’ street smart production of Hal and Falstaff is aimed at the rabble: the types of folks who paid a penny to stand in the pit of the original Globe […]