The Shaw Festival’s production of Bernard Shaw’s enchanting one-act comedy Village Wooing began previews June 8 at the Royal George Theatre. Subtitled “A Comedietta for Two Voices”, Selma Dimitrijevic directs this rarely performed battle-of-the-sexes anti-romance. Six actors play the two roles, the variations in the casting like love itself, ensuring a different encounter every time.

From the deck of an ocean liner to a village shop, a spunky young woman (‘Z’) pursues an anti-social writer (‘A’). She sees something extraordinary in him, but he is not sure he wants to be seen. Two unlikely travelling companions, separated by class, wealth and personality, take a chance to see if this peculiar, yet oddly interesting, person might, against all the odds, be the one for them.

Village Wooing features Julia Course, Kiera Sangster and Donna Soares (陸明慧) as ‘Z’ and David Adams, Kyle Blair and Michael Man as ‘A’.

The Shaw’s production of Village Wooing has set and costume design by Beyata Hackborn, lighting design by Nick Andison, original music and sound design by John Gzowski and movement by Alexis Milligan. The production team includes Amy Jewell, stage manager, and Annie McWhinnie, assistant stage manager.

On stage at the Royal George Theatre (85 Queen Street) from June 8 to October 7, Village Wooing is recommended for audience members 14+/Grade 9+. Running time is approximately 60 minutes with no intermission. This production is sponsored by the Gabriel Pascal Memorial Fund and the Dorothy Strelsin Foundation. 

Generously sponsored by The Slaight Family Foundation, the Shaw Festival’s 2023 season runs through to December 23, with a playbill featuring Mahabharata, Gypsy, Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit, The Amen Corner, Prince Caspian, On the Razzle, Village Wooing, The Shadow of a Doubt, The Playboy of the Western World, The Apple Cart, The Clearing, A Christmas Carol and Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon. This season’s Outdoors @ The Shaw includes Mother, Daughter, The Game of Love and Chance, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s A Grand Night for Singing – One Act – in Concert, Coffee Concerts, Speakeasies, A Short History of Niagara, What’s in Your Songbook? and Gospel Choir.

For tickets visit www.shawfest.com.