Shakespeare BASH’d opens its 2023/24 season with a one-day-only staged reading of Arden of Faversham, a sordid Elizabethan true crime story by Anonymous, on Sunday, November 5, 2023 at The Monarch Tavern.
A fascinating story about the criminal underworld of Shakespeare’s London
Elizabethan true crime story Arden of Faversham is a fascinating and hilarious picture of the criminal underworld of Shakespeare’s London. The mysterious author(s) who collaborated on this 16th century play have woven a story that mixes farce and tragedy to create a sordid tale of love, lust, virtue and murder, telling the story of Alice Arden and her lover Mosby.
The one-day-only staged reading features Stratford Festival star Mike Shara as the titular Arden, with BASH’d favourite Mairi Babb as his wife Alice, and BASH’d and Stratford newcomer John Wamsley as her lover and co-conspirator Mosby.
They are joined by cast members Michael Chiem (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Mirvish), Taylor Cranston (Port Hope Arts Festival), Callan Forrester (The Playhouse Collective), Kevin Hammond (Humber River Shakespeare), Ngabo Nabea (Stratford), Carson Somanlall, Carling Tedesco (Suddenly Last Summer, Riot King) and Ben Yoganathan (Lear, BASH’d; Driftwood).
About Shakespeare BASH’d
A “Bash” is a crushing blow.
It can be powerful and done with passion.
It can be about making an attempt, going at it all on your own.
It can also be a wild night.
Shakespeare BASH’d is an artist-driven initiative that seeks to make classical theatre welcoming, inviting and social. Their aim is to synthesize the classical with the modern, to look at the plays from a place of curiosity, joy, investigation, truth and love. They present staged readings and full productions of seldom-seen plays by Shakespeare and his contemporaries in casual, social settings and intimate theatre venues, creating an engaging, entertaining and accessible storytelling experience for audiences.
Shakespeare BASH’d celebrates collaboration in a season full of rare gems
For the 2023/24 season, they’ll be presenting three rarely produced plays, two as staged readings and one fully staged production, exploring the many levels of collaboration present in these works, both in the collaborative writing of the past, and the art of creating something entirely for the present. Celebrating the connectivity of theatre, they’ll introduce audiences to stories and characters too rarely given a chance to shine.
(Photo credits: Shakespeare BASH’d.)
Event details
Hosted by: Shakespeare BASH’d
Type of event: staged play reading
Featuring: Mairi Babb, Michael Chiem, Taylor Cranston, Callan Forrester, Kevin Hammond, Ngabo Nabea, Mike Shara, Carson Somanlall, Carling Tedesco, John Wamsley, Ben Yoganathan. Read more about the cast here.
Date: Sunday, November 5, 2023
Start time: 2:00 PM EST
Duration: approximately 105 minutes (including intermission)
Cost: C$20.00
Location: The Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton Street, Toronto, ON, M6J 2N8, Canada
Booking link: Book your tickets here.
Contact Details: Shakespeare BASH’d; admin@shakespearebashd.com, shakespearebashd.com
Content warning: For audiences 19+.
Accessibility: The Monarch Tavern is accessed up one step, and the washrooms are all located up or down a flight of stairs. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out at admin@shakespearebashd.com.
Refund policy: Please contact the organizer.