Graeme Somerville News

Artistic Director Tim Carroll and the Shaw Festival have announced Outdoors @ The Shaw, a series of concerts and events scheduled to take place from July 10 to October 9, 2021 on the grounds of the Festival Theatre and Royal George Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake. 

Artistic Director Tim Carroll has announced casting for the Shaw Festival’s upcoming productions of Charley’s Aunt, Flush, The Devil’s Disciple, Sherlock Holmes and the Raven’s Curse, A Short History of Niagara and Trouble in Mind.

Molly Atkinson once again directs the Tim Carroll-adapted A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens's beloved tale of redemption and hope. Returning to the Shaw Festival's Royal George Theatre from November 13 to December 22, the holiday classic hits the stage just in time to herald Niagara-on-the-Lake's historic main street's transformation into the ultimate Christmas village.

To say that George Bernard Shaw's social commentaries were erudite would be an understatement. His keen eye and astute observations always allow the reader or viewer to take pause and contemplate life in a different light. The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the Lake is producing one of his lesser works, GETTING MARRIED. Originally written for the stage in 1908, many of it's concepts remain unchanged regarding the institution of marriage and it's sanctity, but Shaw ingeniously takes us for a roller coaster of a ride in telling this story.

Getting Married, Shaw's satire scrutinizing the institution of marriage and various other "social norms", begins previews May 10 at the Shaw Festival's Royal George Theatre. Director Tanja Jacobs transfers Shaw's timeless and witty comedy to the 1950s - a decade of simmering societal change and where the age-old question "is getting marriage really worth the trouble?" resonates with new relevance.

Heralding the Old Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake's transformation into the ultimate Christmas village, the Shaw Festival's production Artistic Director Tim Carroll's adaptation of A Christmas Carol  hits the stage November 14 to December 23 at the Royal George Theatre.

Craig Hall directs the Canadian premiere of R. Hamilton Wright and David Pichette's new adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic Victorian whodunit The Hound of the Baskervilles. Twist after suspenseful twist will keep audiences on the edge of their seats until the final curtain. Tinged with the familiar Sherlockian wit, this deliciously dark thriller begins previews on August 1 at the Festival Theatre.

Co-directors Tim Carroll and Kevin Bennett relocate Henry V to a World War I dugout where William Shakespeare's drama of politics and war is acted out, experienced and debated among Canadian troops. Henry V, the first Shakespeare play to be produced at The Shaw, begins previews at the Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre on July 22.

The Shaw Festival's inaugural production of A Christmas Carol starts its sold-out run Wednesday, November 15 at the Royal George Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The Shaw Festival's inaugural production of A Christmas Carol starts its sold-out run Wednesday, November 15 at the Royal George Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Artistic Director Tim Carroll announces the Shaw Festival's 2018 ensemble. This season's 56 actors will take to the stage in 14 productions, plus numerous Secret Theatre experiences.

Christmas arrives in Niagara-on-the-Lake on November 15 with the first preview of Charles Dickens's classic A Christmas Carol at the Royal George Theatre.

STRONG ACTING IN DRACULA DESPITE TEDIOUS SCRIPT The story of Bram Stoker's DRACULA has been told long enough since the novel's release in 1897 that most everyone is familiar with the famous Prince of Darkness. Numerous films have been made, as early as the silent version NOSFERATU, and a stage version with Frank Langella was lauded nearly 30 years ago on Broadway. The Shaw Festival is presenting a stage version by Poet Laureate of Glasgow, Liz Lochhead. First given in 1985 in Scotland, this overly long stage adaptation is too bogged down in literary detail, and judicious trimming of the Victorian epic seemed necessary to make it palatable for modern day audiences.

The Shaw Festival's production of Liz Lochhead's sultry adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula - a feminine-focused take on the iconic vampire story - begins previews July 8 at the Festival Theatre.

The Shaw Festival's production of Liz Lochhead's sultry adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula - a feminine-focused take on the iconic vampire story - begins previews July 8 at the Festival Theatre.

The Shaw Festival's production of Liz Lochhead's sultry adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula - a feminine-focused take on the iconic vampire story - begins previews July 8 at the Festival Theatre.

When the Shaw Festival's 2017 production of Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan begins previews on May 3 at the Festival Theatre, it marks two milestones for Artistic Director Tim Carroll - a Shaw Festival directorial debut and his first undertaking of a work by the Festival's namesake. His production joins the tradition of earlier presentations of Saint Joan by former artistic directors Christopher Newton and Jackie Maxwell in 1981 and 2007, respectively.

The Shaw Festival proudly announces casting for Artistic Director Tim Carroll's first season. The Shaw's 2017 ensemble is a mix of new faces and Festival favourites - each actor ready to entertain and excite audiences in this season's 11 productions.

Governor General Award-nominated playwright Lisa Codrington's stage adaptation of Bernard Shaw's The Adventures of the Black Girl in Her Search for God begins previews Friday, June 10 at the Court House Theatre. Commissioned by the Shaw Festival, this world premiere is an outrageous comic tale of a young girl's quest to find God.

The anchor of the Shaw Festival's 2016 season is an ambitious musical adaptation of the beloved, ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Veteran Shaw visionary Peter Hinton breaths new life into the classic Lewis Carroll tale featuring 19 original songs under the musical direction of Allen Cole. Tara Rosling stars as Alice and leads a large cast which also stars Graeme Somerville, Moya O'Connell, Kyle Blair, Donna Belleville, Ben Saunders and Jennifer Phipps.