Announcing Free Events at Shakespeare in High Park This August

In celebration of Shakespeare in High Park's 35th anniversary season and Canada's 150th, Canadian Stage is proud to announce a series of free events taking place at the High Park Amphitheatre throughout the month of August, including a showcase of new short plays by the participants of Territorial Tales, the company's 2017 Youth Engagement Project; a Community Citizenship Ceremony, and a Global Village Family Festival.

In keeping with Shakespeare in High Park's 35 year tradition of accessible outdoor theatre for all, this diverse slate of pre-show activities and daytime cultural events will offer audiences opportunities to immerse themselves in the personal stories and powerful experiences that make up our global landscape:

Territorial Tales Engage in the premiere of three short plays based on themes of displacement, migration and the recapturing of spirit, penned by selected participants of Canadian Stage's 2017 youth engagement program and performed before the start of King Lear and Twelfth Night by six youth actors. In partnership with the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, Sketch and Kids Up Front.
WHEN: August 3-September 2 - 7:30 PM | included with entry to Shakespeare in High Park). Click here to see the full schedule & description of selected works/artists

Community Citizenship Ceremony will honour Canada's newest citizens with an afternoon of roundtable discussions, short performances featuring ensemble members of Shakespeare in High Park and a keynote speech from Salah Bachir, Chancellor of OCAD University and President of Cineplex Media. Co-hosted with the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).WHEN: Thursday, August 3 - 2:30 PM | High Park Amphitheatre (no ticket required)

Global Village: We Are Our Story Kick off the August long weekend early with this free family festival devoted to the stories and experiences that make up our Global Village. A day-long celebration of the land we share with immersive activities including live musical performances, DIY workshops, delicious food tastings, storytelling and more. Featuring an opening performance from the Woodland Cultural Centre; the globe-trotting musical offerings of Amai Kuda & Y Josephine and the Blue Dot Band; food demos from Not Far From the Tree Cider and Sang Kim Kimchi; Ukranian craft workshops from Folk Camp, and more.

All events are free. Daytime events (Community Citizenship Ceremony and Global Village) do not require a ticket; entry to Territorial Tales pre-show performances is included with admission to Shakespeare in High Park. Each Shakespeare in High Park performance is pay-what-you can (suggested $20 contribution) and premium seats can be reserved by donation in advance for $25, online at canadianstage.com or by calling the Canadian Stage box office at 416.368.3110.

Shakespeare in High Park is supported by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport through the Celebrate Ontario program. Territorial Tales is made possible by the Community Fund for Canada's 150th, a collaboration between the Toronto Foundation, the Government of Canada, and extraordinary leaders from coast to coast.

Facebook: Canadian Stage | Twitter/Instagram: @CanadianStage
Website: www.canadianstage.com/online/Shakespeare

A beloved seasonal event, Canadian Stage's Shakespeare in High Park is Canada's largest and longest-running professional outdoor theatre experience, attracting over 30,000 people each year. Founded as Dream in High Park in 1983, the series evolved into Shakespeare in High Park in 2013, presenting two alternating productions throughout the summer - one comedy, one tragedy - in innovative takes on Bard classics. The 35th summer season presents King Lear + Twelfth Night in repertory until September 3. For more info, www.canadianstage.com/online/shakespeare

About Canadian Stage - celebrating 30 seasons
Founded in 1987, Canadian Stage is one of the country's leading not-for-profit contemporary performing arts companies, sharing new, innovative stage work from Canada and around the world. Led by Artistic & General Director Matthew Jocelyn, Canadian Stage produces and presents a new hybrid of multidisciplinary performance that pushes the boundaries of form and style, integrating theatre, dance, music, multimedia and more. Canadian Stage is dedicated to reinforcing the presence of Canadian art and artists within an international cultural dialogue, by acting as a home, incubator and exporter of leading Canadian and global performance. The company stages an annual season at three historic locations: the Bluma Appel Theatre; the Berkeley Street Theatre; and the High Park Amphitheatre, home to Shakespeare in High Park. Offering a range of education, artist training and community outreach programs, Canadian Stage is committed to cultivating tomorrow's artistic innovators and audiences. For more information, visit canadianstage.com.