Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan (Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan Festival) is a yearly summer Shakespeare theatre festival founded in 1985 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. In addition to productions of plays by William Shakespeare and his contemporaries, the festival's activities include medieval feasts, workshops, tours, art displays, special matinees, and a free community stage.
History The festival was founded in part by Gordon McCall in 1985, launching with a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream staged on a golf course. McCall remained artistic director until 1991, when the role was assumed by Henry Woolf, a British-born actor/playwright/director. Between the years 1991 and 2000, Woolf is credited as director on 16 of the festival’s productions. Among these are several productions of non-Shakespeare plays, including Harold Pinter's Ashes to Ashes.
Woolf retired as artistic director in 2001, and the role was subsequently filled by Mark von Eschen. Having previously been involved in the festival in a number of roles, including associate artistic director, von Eschen remained in his post until 2014. Von Eschen is credited as having directed roughly 24 productions during this period. Will Brooks took up the position of Artistic Producer following von Eschen's departure, and remained in the position until the festival's 2021 season.
On August 1, 2020, construction was completed on a permanent amphitheater for the festival, containing 250 seats and three additional buildings for use as a dressing room, bar, and box office.
Production history The following production history is sourced from the Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan website.
YearPlayDirector(s)Theme or Setting2002 HamletMark von EschenElizabethan Era2002The AlchemistMark von EschenTraditional2003 As You Like ItMark von EschenElizabethan Comic Book2003Measure for MeasureMark von Eschen1603/2003 crossover2004MacbethMark von Eschen11th Century Scotland2004 Much Ado About NothingMark von Eschen1875 Canadian Northwest2005The Comedy of ErrorsMark von Eschen 1970s Disco2005Romeo and JulietMark von EschenEarly Renaissance2006 The Taming of the ShrewMark von EschenRenaissance Era2006The Two Gentlemen of VeronaMark von EschenPre-World War I2007Julius CaesarMark von EschenRome, 42 B.C.2007Twelfth NightMark von EschenAge of Rock'n'Roll2008The TempestMark von EschenMythical "Age of Dragons"2008Henry IVMark von EschenEngland, 14922009Antony & Cleopatra Mark von EschenAncient Rome/Egypt2009A Midsummer Night's DreamMark von EschenWWII Military Base2010The Merry Wives of WindsorMark von Eschen 1930s Saskatchewan2010The Merchant of VeniceMark von Eschen 1940s Venice2011The Winter's TaleMark von EschenViking Era2011Love's Labour's LostMark von Eschen Modern-Day University of Saskatchewan Campus2012HamletMark von EschenDream World2012As You Like ItMark von EschenSteampunk2013The Comedy of ErrorsMark von EschenIndiana Jones Inspired2013MacbethMark von Eschen11th Century Scotland2014Romeo and JulietWill Brooks2014The Taming of the ShrewJohnna Wright 1960s Doo Wop2015Much Ado About NothingPamela Haig Bartley Post-WWII2015OthelloWill BrooksModern Business Day World2016J. Caesar (Written by Tracey Power)Anita SmithPost-apocalyptic 2416 All Female society2016A Midsummer Night's DreamWill BrooksCircus Themed2016The Roving ShowJoshua BeaduryDevised piece based on The Tempest2017Richard IIISkye BrandonSet in the actual time of Richard III2017Twelfth NightWill BrooksBluegrass music inspired2018HamletKelli FoxA futuristic world2018The Merry Wives of WindsorGreg OchitwaSet in a present-day holiday resort2018Titus A. Puppet revengeWill BrooksA bloody Titus with puppets on a second stage2019The Comedy of ErrorsJoshua BeaudrySouthern Floridian trailer park2019As You Like ItAnita Smith2019pimohtewakMultidisciplinary outdoor piece2020MacbethWill BrooksCancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic2020The TempestYvette NolanCancelled due to pandemic2020The Tempest - An Online Reading EventTranslated into modern English and performed on Zoom2020Fireside StoriesStories of Ukrainian immigrants and Canadian Indigenous people2020Staging the FutureLivestreamed opening night of new amphitheater2021Macbeth2021CosmosMicah Jane & Peace Akintade-Oluwagbeyea collaboration between poet Peace Akintade-Oluwagbeye and musician Micah Jane2021Macbeth: On Film!Filmed version of aforementioned 2021 performance2022CymbelineJennifer Brewin2022Shakespeare's WillRoxanne DickeA one-woman show depicting Shakespeare's wife Anne Hathaway reading his will2022Iago SpeaksDaniel MacdonaldA play depicting events post-Shakespeare's Othello
References
External links Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan The Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan Festival on Trip Advisor Tourism Saskatchewan Listing Tourism Saskatoon Listing