A longstanding tradition in Halifax that has been entertaining audiences for more than three decades is coming back to Point Pleasant Park this summer.
Shakespeare By the Sea (SBTS) has released its lineup for its 32 season and Associate Artistic Director Drew Douris-O’Hara tells our newsroom, this year, they focused on shows that have a sense of adventure and escape.
He is referring to what he describes as a “legendary musical comedy”, Robin Hood and “one of Shakespeare’s great comedies, As You Like It”.
“Those shows came together really, sort of organically, as in response to us going, ‘Oh, what do we want right now? What do we want from our summer theatre? What do we want to feel?’,” says Douris-O’Hara.
He says, they are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Robin Hood, which was a real “landmark production” for their organization.
“It’s a full scale swashbuckling, sword fighting, singing, dancing, musical adventure,” says Douris-O’Hara.
And it is paired with As you Like It, a show he says that is about leaving the city and living in the woods.
To end the season, they will perform an unrehearsed show, which Douris-O’Hara says, always bring in a large crowd -this year is, Romeo and Juliet.
Longevity
Shakespeare By the Sea is an outdoor theatre company that takes over an area of, popular tourist attraction, Point Pleasant Park every July and August.
It started in 1994 when founded by the late Patrick Christopher-Carter, a former acting professor at Dalhousie University.
Douris-O’Hara tells us, Carter decided to do a showing of the Twelfth Night with mostly his students and ended up bringing in hundreds of spectators.
“We’ve been growing in the park ever since,” says Douris-O’Hara.
Photo: Cast of Shakespeare By the Sea perform Twelfth Night/Photo: Stoo Metz
Why has it lasted?
Hundreds continue to come watch SBTS shows every summer and according to Douris-O’Hara a big reason is the relationship that has been created between the audience and the crew.
“You’re participating in a unique, cultural experience in the city. You’re experiencing the park in a way that you have never done before,” says Douris-O’Hara.
He says, they’ve become not only the place where kids see their first show, but many spectators keep coming back throughout the summer.
Keeping the shows fresh and relevant is also a key part of their “artistic mandate”.
“We take what we love in the play, and we adapt it to work for a modern audience,” says Douris-O’Hara.
Not only that, but he also says, Shakespeare’s plays were written to be performed in the open air with most major cities in Canada that have similar group.
Douris-O’Hara says when you hear the plays out loud and see a group of actors bring a “fresh take” to it, there is “nothing like it”.
“It’s really just people who come…they know how unique it is, and I think we love them as much as they love us.”
Robin Hood opens July 6, and As You Like It, July 25.
