Cowichan Valley Shakespeare Festival
August 17 @ 7:30 pm
It’s a Shakespearian Summer of Love at Gem o’ the Isle Farm!
The Shawnigan Players are back for our 13th season of the Cowichan Valley Shakespeare Festival! Come enjoy our outdoor performances at the enchanting Gem o’ the Isle Farm, where orchards, pastures, and beautiful Koksilah skies frame our retellings of two of Shakespeare’s delightful early romantic comedies.
“Love’s Labour’s Lost” explores desire, loyalty, patience, and the unstoppable forces of love. In a bid to devote themselves entirely to study, King Ferdinand and his three lords make a pact to swear off all earthly pleasures, especially the society of women. But when the princess of France arrives with her charming and clever entourage, their resolve is tested! Live music and fun, nostalgic costumes bring a 1960s vibe to director Rob Foell’s version of this timeless story.
In “The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” a pair of lifelong friends discover the intoxication of love and the pitfalls of betrayal. This madcap romp features romance, jealousy, adventure, deceit, and the sourest-natured dog that lives. Part fairy tale, part sitcom, this playful yet poignant story comes alive with director Alex Gallacher’s signature balance of pathos and lunacy.
The Cowichan Valley Shakespeare Festival has become a summer tradition for many valley folks. Past audience favourites include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado about Nothing, and Macbeth. Fans will recognize veteran Players and meet some fresh new stars in this ever-evolving troupe of dedicated, enthusiastic, community-minded thespians.
“Love’s Labour’s Lost” runs Aug. 8, 9, 13, 15, and 17 at 7:30pm, with a Sunday matinee at 2:00pm Aug. 11.
“The Two Gentlemen of Verona” runs Aug. 7, 10, 12, 14, and 16 at 7:30pm, and Aug. 18 at 2:00pm.
Single tickets are $25, or upgrade to a Festival Pass and see both plays for $40. Family passes (children plus an adult or two, up to 5 people) are $50 / $80.
Tickets are available at Ten Old Books or online at shawniganplayers.com
Join us for some quirky Elizabethan rom-com and celebrate a Shakespearian “Summer of Love!”