Tag Archives: Freewill Shakespeare Festival

Musical theatre tickles the Bard: larky Something Rotten! at the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, a review

Posted on July 2, 2026 by Liz Nicholls

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca “Who on earth is goin’ to sit there while an actor breaks into song?” ambitious playwright/impresario Nigel Bottom wonders incredulously (in song, natch) in Something Rotten!, the ingenious musical comedy hit now singing and dancing on … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Musical theatre tickles the Bard: larky Something Rotten! at the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, a review

A three-festival weekend in Edmonton theatre: improv, Shakespeare, musical theatre…

Posted on June 26, 2026 by Liz Nicholls

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca Real people together, artists and audiences, getting festive: what a concept! It’s an AI-proof three-festival weekend on Edmonton stages. •No one can really know what will happen at Improvaganza, Rapid Fire Theatre’s annual excursion into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Features | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on A three-festival weekend in Edmonton theatre: improv, Shakespeare, musical theatre…

Once more unto the park! Much Ado About Nothing celebrates the homecoming of the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, a review

Posted on June 21, 2026 by Liz Nicholls

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca A sweet, long-awaited reunion is happening in Hawrelak Park. And you should be there to feel the vibrations. It’s been a hard, uphill road back, but the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, a ‘merry wanderer’ (as a sprite … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Once more unto the park! Much Ado About Nothing celebrates the homecoming of the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, a review

Much ado about … something big! Freewill Shakespeare Festival is (finally) back in Hawrelak Park, with two shows

Posted on June 11, 2026 by Liz Nicholls

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca They’re back! Finally. In the park where they belong…. When Benedick and Beatrice, the witty sparring partners of Much Ado About Nothing, take their “merry war” to the Heritage Amphitheatre in newly re-opened Hawrelak Park Wednesday, … Continue reading →

Posted in Previews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Much ado about … something big! Freewill Shakespeare Festival is (finally) back in Hawrelak Park, with two shows

Meet Concrete Theatre’s new artistic director Brett Dahl

Posted on May 25, 2026 by Liz Nicholls

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca Concrete Theatre, the award-winning 39-year-old Edmonton company devoted to making theatre for young audiences, has found a new artistic director. The multi-faceted theatre artist Brett Dahl inherits the Concrete artistic directorship from Jenna Rodgers (who’s moving … Continue reading →

Posted in News/Views | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Meet Concrete Theatre’s new artistic director Brett Dahl

Violent kids, bad parents? These Words Like Daggers: A Chamber Opera For Gertrude, at Springboards

Posted on March 29, 2026 by Liz Nicholls

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca “These words like daggers enter in mine ears….” Hamlet, III, iv, the Closet Scene What happens when you look at the world, and the violence perpetrated by kids, through the lens of their (shocked, or appalled, … Continue reading →

Posted in Previews | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Violent kids, bad parents? These Words Like Daggers: A Chamber Opera For Gertrude, at Springboards

Celebrating playmakers: Springboards, Workshop West’s signature new play festival, is back

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Liz Nicholls

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca Springboards springs back this week. And with it our chance to catch new Canadian plays-in-progress, a whole bunch of them at every stage of their evolution, as they meet an audience — us! — for the … Continue reading →

Posted in News/Views, Previews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Celebrating playmakers: Springboards, Workshop West’s signature new play festival, is back

Intermission’s over! Act II of the theatre season, and 10 shows too intriguing to miss

Posted on January 10, 2026 by Liz Nicholls

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca Intermission’s over, and Act II of the theatre season is about to begin. Your nights out at the theatre are in progress. Rehearsals are happening in theatres across town. At Shadow (opening Jan. 22) Michael Peng … Continue reading →

Posted in Features, Previews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Intermission’s over! Act II of the theatre season, and 10 shows too intriguing to miss

2025: the year in Edmonton theatre, part 2

Posted on January 5, 2026 by Liz Nicholls

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca 2025: here’s a small selection of performances, design inspirations, moments, experiences, bright ideas (in no particular order) that have stayed with me. You will have your own personal assortment (feel free to let your mind wander … Continue reading →

Posted in Features | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 2025: the year in Edmonton theatre, part 2

On the street where she lived, stories from childhood: Morningside Road, a new Celtic musical, premieres at Shadow

Posted on October 13, 2025 by Liz Nicholls

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca The through-line of Mhairi Berg’s childhood was stories — fascinating, first-hand stories told to her by her Scottish grandmother about growing up in Edinburgh. “I didn’t realize how important they were to me,” says Berg, “But … Continue reading →

Posted in Previews | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on On the street where she lived, stories from childhood: Morningside Road, a new Celtic musical, premieres at Shadow