A collaborative project between the University of Leeds (UK) and the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) (Beijing) to celebrate Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu in 2016, the 400th anniversary of the deaths of two legendary playwrights. The creative team from UIBE performed an adaptation of the magical forest scenes from Shakespeare's play and the team from Leeds performed a contemporary response to Tang Xianzu's _Nanke Ji_.

“Using Shakespeare's classic tale of love and misunderstanding, traditional Chinese theatre techniques, music, humour and contemporary staging, Beijing's ST@UIBE company examines love, gender politics and the changing role of women in contemporary Chinese society.” (description from the Edinburgh Fringe Programme)

June 21, 2016

Romeo and Juliet, Love's Labour's Lost

June 21, 2016/ Hawrelak Park/ Susan Bennett

Formerly the River City Shakespeare Festival and founded in 1989, two productions annually of Shakespeare's plays performed at 1000-seat outdoor amphitheatre.

June 21, 2016

Hamlet, Shakespeare by the Bow

June 21, 2016/ Prince's Island Park/ Susan Bennett

This is an Open-air, abridged (90 minute) version of Shakespeare's tragedy. The performance played at Prince’s Island Park Ampitheatre, except July 19-24 when performances were held on St. Patrick's Island at a variety of locations, where the audience followed action to different sites.

May 25, 2016

Macbeth, EKIP Tiyatrosu

May 25, 2016/ Üsküdar Tekel Sahnesi / Susan Bennett

Macbeth
Presented in Turkish
Üsküdar Tekel Sahnesi (Theatre), Istanbul, Turkey
May 25-27, 2016, as part of the IKSV Theatre Festival

Trailer from EKIP's Vimeo site.

EKIP Tiyatrosu
Writer: William Shakespeare
Translator: Sabahattin Eyüboğlu
Director: Bülent Emin Yarar

Creative Team (roles in Turkish):
Sahne Ve Kostüm Tasarimi: Başak Özdoğan
Işik Tasarimi: Cem Yılmazer
Kukla: Candan Seda Balaban
Orijinal Müzik: Orhan Enes Kuzu
Sahne Müzisyeni: Hüseyin Korkma
Hareket Düzeni: Dicle Doğan
Sahne Dövüşü: Tamer Serkan Subaşı
Asistan: Sevilay Ergüler
Işik Kumanda: Murat Bakır
Ses Kumanda: Cafer Hekim
Afiş: Savaş Çekiç
Sahne Fotoğraflari: Ali Güler
Stüdyo Fotoğraflari: Burak Bulut Yıldırım

Cast: Simel Aksünger, Serkan Altıntaş, Aziz Caner İnan, Murat Kapu, İsmail Sağır, Ayşegül Uraz, Cem Uslu

For More Information:
http://www.ekiptiyatrosu.com/oyunlar/sahnede/macbeth

http://tiyatro.iksv.org/tr/festivaller/225/program/485

May 18, 2016

Coriolanus, Istanbul State Theatre

May 18, 2016/ Caddebostan Cultural Centre/ Susan Bennett

Director Malcolm Keith Kay embarks on a modern, experimental interpretation of Shakespeare's Coriolanus.

May 12, 2016

Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)

May 12, 2016/ Vertigo Theatre/ Susan Bennett

“Ann-Marie MacDonald`s witty play is a sparkling comedic tale of self-discovery. Graduate Assistant Constance Leadbelly, who is obsessed with decoding Shakespearian manuscripts, is suddenly propelled into the world of Othello and Romeo and Juliet. She unintentionally alters them into comedies by saving the lives of the two leading ladies. Seductions, sword fights, and disguises ensue in this award winning Canadian play.”

May 05, 2016

The Complete Deaths, Spymonkey

May 05, 2016/ Susan Bennett

All 74 on-stage deaths from Shakespeare's oeuvre realized in physical comedy by four actors. With a LED-display counter monitoring the 75 deaths (they include the fly in Titus Andronicus) and propelling the action to the zero, The Complete Deaths is a fast-paced and entertaining tribute to the tragic ends of so many of Shakespeare's characters.

May 01, 2016

Fools' Court, T. Fozilova

May 01, 2016/ Susan Bennett

King Lear has been exiled by his daughters, Hamlet by his uncle Claudius. Lear, accompanied by his Fool, meets Hamlet in a cemetery where they examine each other's lives. This performance includes extraordinary puppetry and audience participation.

March 30, 2016

Macbeth, Vertigo Theatre

March 30, 2016/ Vertigo Theatre/ Susan Bennett

Macbeth
Presented in English
The Studio at Vertigo Theatre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
March 30-April 16, 2016

The Shakespeare Company, Vertigo Theatre, and Hit & Myth Productions
Directed by Craig Hall
Adapted by Haysam Kadri, Craig Hall and Anna Cummer

Cast Includes:
Lady Macbeth: Anna Cummer
Macbeth: Haysam Kadri
Witches: Joel Cochrane, Julie Orton, Keelen McCauley
King Duncan: Stephen Hair
Macduff: Carl Sine Evan Hall
Banquo: Nathan Schmidt
Duncan’s son and rightful heir: Evan Hall

Selected Review:
http://calgaryherald.com/storyline/theatre-review-in-discussions-of-shakespeares-great-lovers-its-hardly-the-macbeths-who-jump-to-mind-and-yet

March 28, 2016

A Different Romeo and Juliet, Dhaka Theatre Company

March 28, 2016/ Susan Bennett

“The UK theatre company, Graeae has been working with Dhaka Theatre, Bangladesh since 2013 to create a long-term training programme with young disabled adults in Bangladesh. This collaboration lead to a new production of A Different Romeo and Juliet in 2016 to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, as part of Shakespeare Lives.

The project was initiated by the British Council and Dhaka Theatre. The aim was to tackle the marginalisation of disabled people, make theatre in Bangladesh more inclusive and to offer audiences a new experience. Nasiruddin Yousuff of Dhaka Theatre will direct the final production. Yousuff directed the acclaimed Bengali production of The Tempest which was seen at Shakespeare’s Globe in 2012. Jenny Sealey, Artistic Director of Graeae, worked in collaboration with Yousuff and shared her expertise in training and development. Sealey was Co-Artistic Director of the London 2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremony.” –Information from the British Council website

February 01, 2016

British Council's "Shakespeare Lives" in China

February 01, 2016/ Susan Bennett

Part of the global programme of events celebrating Shakespeare's work in the 400th anniversary year organized by the British Council and the GREAT Britain campaign

Performance Shakespeare 2016 Blog