Graeme Somerville News

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.

Director Peter Hinton's highly anticipated adaptation of Lewis Carroll's beloved tale Alice in Wonderland begins previews today at The Shaw's Festival Theatre.

Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell and the Shaw Festival announce principal casting and the creative teams for the 2016 playbill. The 2016 season features new and core ensemble members and beloved returning artists celebrating Ms. Maxwell's final season and 14-year tenure at The Shaw.

The Shaw Festival is known for dusting off old chestnuts and breathing new life into them. Unfortunately, its new production of Moss Hart's LIGHT UP THE SKY is  a chestnut better left in the attic to continue gathering dust.  Compared to his successful plays, like THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER  (with 739 Broadway performances) and YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU (838 performances), LIGHT UP THE SKY is a second string comedy that seems stale and dated. It's initial run on Broadway was only a modest success, running 200 performances, and revivals have not fared much better.

The Shaw Festival today announced principal casting and creative team details for its 54th season.

A new production of Major Barbara, one of Bernard Shaw's most celebrated and provocative works, began previews May 2 in the intimate space of the Shaw Festival's Royal George Theatre.