Stage Door News
Stage Door News
This summer, Driftwood Theatre—the longest running outdoor touring theatre company in Ontario—celebrates its 20th year with William Shakespeare’s masterpiece THE TEMPEST, complimented by a host of celebratory events. A wonderful tale filled with magic, fascinating characters and creatures, a powerful love story, and the endearing relationship of a father and his daughter, THE TEMPEST is, at its roots, a play about the nature of family.
“Driftwood has been blessed over the course of its 20-year history with an incredible family of artists, supporters and audiences who make it possible for us to bring the works of history’s greatest playwright to life in the twilight enchantment of a summer evening,” says Artistic Director D. Jeremy Smith, “and so our 20th season puts the spotlight on family as we seek to understand the bonds which hold us together, the responsibility we owe to those we love (and love to hate), and the legacies we strive to pass on to our future generations.”
After his treacherous brother usurps him as the Duke of Milan, Prospero and his daughter Miranda are cast away at sea and find themselves stranded on a deserted island. Then—twelve years later—fate sets his enemies on a journey which brings them on a collision course with his island. Prospero calls upon magical assistance to raise a storm that brings them to his reckoning once and for all.
His enemies – including his brother Antonio and the King of Naples, Alonso – within his grasp, Prospero sets about a plan for vengeance. When Miranda falls in love with Alonso’s son Ferdinand, Prospero’s need for personal vengeance is set against his hopes for the future of his family. With his increasingly hostile servant Caliban set upon his own course of vengeance, Prospero must decide upon a course of action quickly or forever be stranded.
“It wouldn’t be summer without Driftwood.” – Durham This Week
In the iconic role of the shipwrecked duke Prospero is Richard Alan Campbell, familiar to Driftwood audiences for his harrowing portrayal as the blinded Gloucester in King Lear (2009). A celebrated Toronto actor, Rick was recently featured in the sold-out multi-Dora nominated Video Cabaret production of Trudeau and the FLQ at Toronto’s Young Centre.
Joining Rick on stage are returning company members Christopher Darroch (Young Odysseus in The Odyssey) as Prospero’s usurping brother Antonio, Madeleine Donohue (Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream) as the spirit Ariel, Peter van Gestel (the title role in Macbeth) as the creature Caliban, and founding company member Steven Burley (Oberon, A Midsummer Night's Dream) as Alonso, the King of Naples.
New cast members include Miriam Fernandez (Soliciting Temptation, Tarragon Theatre) as Miranda, Kaleb Alexander (The Speedy, Unspun Theatre) as Ferdinand, Christina Gordon (Sound of Music, Drayton; 7 seasons, Stratford Festival) as the wise counsellor Gonzalo, and Farah Merani (Pericles, Shakespeare’s Globe, London) as Alonso’s sibling Sebastian.
Working behind the scenes are Dora Award winning costume designer Melanie McNeill (The Odyssey), composer and long-time Driftwood collaborator Tom Lillington, movement directors Richard Lee and Clare Preuss, dramaturge Toby Malone (dramaturge Soulpepper Theatre, Stratford Theatre), stage manager Sandi Becker, props builder Lokki Ma (head of props, Young People’s Theatre) and Production Manager and Technical Director Dan Gallo (founding company member). The production is directed and designed by Artistic Director, D. Jeremy Smith.
“Great entertainment for a summer’s night.” – Jon Kaplan | NOW Magazine
In celebration of Driftwood’s 20th season and the year of Shakespeare’s 450th birthday, the Bard's Bus Tour will feature a special live a cappella concert presentation in 5 select cities: FOOD OF LOVE, created by Kevin Fox and Tom Lillington, celebrates the music of Shakespeare. From swing to rock to r&b, to classical and folk, Driftwood Theatre has drawn on some of the greatest musical styles to bring life to Shakespeare’s songs and text. FOOD OF LOVE will be presented prior to THE TEMPEST in Oshawa, Mississauga, Toronto, Cobourg, and Port Perry. All FOOD OF LOVE performances are FREE.
Rounding out the season will be Driftwood’s signature Shakespearience program, including a series of preshow chats with local experts, late-night chats with the cast and crew, playwriting workshops, children’s interactive theatre workshops, and a Closing Night pre-show BBQ.
A full list of performance dates and locations and special events is available at www.driftwoodtheatre.com.
“I think that it is so wonderful that they produce theatre for people who might
not necessarily see it. You have to love tenacity and dedication like that.”
– Lynn Slotkin | Slotkin Review
The Bard’s Bus Tour is generously sponsored by Ontario Power Generation. Driftwood gratefully acknowledges the support of The Ontario Arts Council, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Toronto Arts Council and TD Bank Group.
Founded in 1995, The Driftwood Theatre Group is Ontario’s first and longest-running outdoor touring theatre tradition. Driftwood re-defines the classics through exploration of new styles and interpretations of the world's greatest plays, even as we invest in the creation of today's voices in Canadian Theatre—the classics of tomorrow.
Working with the best emerging and established artists today, Driftwood celebrates the work of William Shakespeare and other classics through its annual Bard’s Bus Tour, touring to parks and heritage sites and focusing on communities with little or no access to professional theatre. This year marked the 11th anniversary of Driftwood’s hugely successful Trafalgar 24 play creation festival in Whitby, Ontario, and the third year of their associated play development program, Beyond The Castle.
2014-06-04
Toronto: Driftwood Theatre Group tours "The Tempest" throughout Ontario this summer