Shakespeare by the Sea celebrates 25 years
Festival to mark milestone with performances of ‘The Tempest’ on Signal Hill
It was 25 years ago that the Shakespeare by the Sea Festival gave its first performance: a production of “The Tempest” staged overlooking the craggy cliffs of Logy Bay.
Since that first performance, the festival has grown into an important pillar of the theatre community.
To mark this important milestone for the Shakespeare by the Sea Festival, artistic director Ian Campbell has decided to restage that initial work, this time in the picturesque setting of Signal Hill.
“‘The Tempest’ is the show this festival was built to produce,” Campbell said.
The 25th-anniversary production of “The Tempest” will be performed at 6 p.m. every Friday and Saturday.
“Our theme for this season is From Home Port to Uncharted Waters. ‘The Tempest’ definitely feels like home. It’s how it all began and is a great nod to our rich history as a company,” Campbell said.
“We are revisiting our roots and looking forward to our future.”
The performance, directed by Paul Rowe, incorporates the rugged Newfoundland landscape, so fitting to the story of the shipwreck, with the unique culture of the people who live here to bring the tale to life.
Other productions this season are “Timon of Athens” (Sundays and Mondays at 6 p.m.), “Shake it Up!” (Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.), “A Soldier’s Heart” (Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.) and “Tunes and Tales with Kelly Russell” (Mondays at 8 p.m.). The productions will take place at multiple venues throughout St. John’s.
Like last season, the program includes some non-shakespearian work. These modern shows — “A Soldier’s Heart” and “Tunes and Tales with Kelly Russell” — are about Newfoundland’s rich history and culture.
“The place is such an important part of what we do,” says Campbell, adding that a natural extension of this emphasis on location is to include work about it.
The production of “Timon of Athens” is an important one for the Shakespeare by the Sea Festival and part of its goal to venture “uncharted waters,” as it is one of the few of works by the Bard it had not yet performed.
In the coming years, the Shakespeare by the Sea Festival hopes to engage more youth performers and audiences, and inspire the next generation of theatregoers. Performances like “Shake it Up!” — a 60-minute condensed version of four Shakespeare plays — performed at the St. John’s farmers market on Saturdays is intended to help the festival to achieve this goal.
“We are focused on setting the festival up to continue to thrive in the future,” says Campbell.
Tickets for productions cost $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors, and can be purchased using cash or credit at the venues. Tickets can be reserved in advance by emailing info@shakespearebytheseafestival.com or by calling 709-722-7287.
Audience members are advised to bring a picnic blanket or chair to sit on — cushions are available to rent for $2 — and weather-appropriate clothing.
The performance of “The Tempest” runs approximately 105 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.