The St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival’s 2024 season promises a magical evening under the stars, led by a new artistic team!

Prescott – Julia Nish-Lapidus and James Wallis, the married couple known for Toronto indie theatre darling Shakespeare BASH’d, as well as multiple seasons at the Stratford Festival, have taken the artistic reigns of the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, a much-respected classical theatre company, for the 22nd season. Bringing their clear, energetic, and resourceful style to the banks of the St. Lawrence River, this season is sure to delight.

This season focuses on joy, celebration, and fresh starts, and will see some of Canada’s top classical theatre performers come together in Eastern Ontario to create magic under the stars for audiences of all ages.

Performing in repertory, as the mainstage season, is Shakespeare’s imaginative comedy The Tempest and the witty farce She Stoops to Conquer, by Oliver Goldsmith. These productions will run from July 13 to August 10, 2024, at The Kinsmen Amphitheatre.

The Tempest will illuminate the amphitheatre each night, where the natural backdrop of the St. Lawrence River will bring to life the dream-like world of this Shakespearean romance. Incorporating music, puppetry, and beautiful text, this piece tells the story of loss, land, memory, revenge, and forgiveness.

Starring David Mackett (Fly on the Wall Theatre, Citadel, Shakespeare BASH’d) as Prospero, and Gordon Patrick White (Stratford Festival, NAC, Native Earth) as Caliban, under the direction of Co-Artistic Director James Wallis.

She Stoops to Conquer, is the quintessential version of 18th Century “laughing comedy,” where society’s eccentricities are the butt of the joke. This genuinely funny play is a crowd-pleaser about lust, status, love, marriage, and mistaken identity, and is one of the most famous English comedies in the canon.

Featuring up-and-coming artist Sofía Contal (Theatre Aquarius, Capitol Theatre, Carousel Players) as the titular Kate Hardcastle, opposite Dora Award Winner Deivan Steele (Driftwood, Manitoba TYP, Shakespeare by the Sea Halifax) as her nervous suitor, under the direction of Co-Artistic Director Julia Nish-Lapidus.

Rounding out the cast is Daniel Briere (Dora Nominee, Stratford, Shakespeare BASH’d, Watermark), Philip Pace (Stratford, Colorado Shakespeare), Cara Pantalone (A Company of Fools, Ovation Productions), and Breanne Tice (Dora Nominee, Shakespeare BASH’d, Theatre By the Bay). Both productions feature costumes designed by Prix Rideau Award winner Hannah Ferguson.

The season will close with a one-week run of Play On! A Shakespeare-Inspired Mixtape, created by Robert Markus, Julia Nish-Lapidus, and James Wallis, running August 13 to 17, 2024 at The Kinsmen Amphitheatre.

Originally created for, and receiving a sold-out run in, the Stratford Festival’s 2021 season, this cabaret is an entertaining mash-up of pop music and Shakespearean text, bringing together a wide range of songs from all different eras and genres, including The Beatles, Taylor Swift, Prince, Elton John, and more. It’s a celebratory event for all ages!

Featuring a soon-to-be-announced lineup of musical theatre powerhouses, under the musical direction of Brockville-native Joseph Herbison, this Shakespeare play-meets-concert will be the perfect way to cap off the new team’s inaugural season!

The Season at a Glance:

The Tempest, by William Shakespeare

July 13 to August 10, 2024

She Stoops to Conquer, by Oliver Goldsmith
July 17 to August 10, 2024

• Monday to Friday at 7 pm
• Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1 pm
• Saturdays at 6 pm

Play On! A Shakespeare Inspired Mixtape, created by Robert Markus, Julia Nish-Lapidus, and James Wallis

August 13 to 17, 2024

• Tuesday to Friday at 7 pm
• Saturday at 1 pm & 6 pm

All performances at the Kinsmen Amphitheatre, Sandra S. Lawn Harbour, 101 Water St W, Prescott ON. Rain Venue: St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 425 Centre St, Prescott ON

New this season, we have a rain venue, so out-of-town patrons can plan ahead and be sure they’ll see an incredible show no matter the weather!

Tickets and passes are now available at www.stlawrenceshakespeare.ca.