Shakespeare BASH’d opens its 2024/25 season with a one-day-only staged reading of The Spanish Tragedy, a bloody tale of a father’s revenge for a murdered son, on Sunday, November 17, 2024 at the Monarch Tavern.
The emergence of the revenge tragedy
Establishing the revenge tragedy (or revenge play) as a new genre, The Spanish Tragedy is one of the most influential plays in early modern theatre. Written by the 16th century English playwright Thomas Kyd between 1582 and 1592, this theatrically stunning play is a violent recounting of Hieronimo’s revenge of his son’s murder. Brutally beautiful, it combines forms of comedy, tragedy and Renaissance ghost story to create a haunting tale – essential to our understanding of Shakespeare’s theatre.
Don’t miss this one-day only event!
This staged reading features Stratford Festival stars Scott Wentworth as Hieronimo and Marion Adler as Isabella. They are joined by Dora nominees Kate Martin (BASH’d, YPT), Tristan Claxton (BASH’d, Cahoots) and Jeff Yung (BASH’d, Factory, Luminato), alongside rising Stratford star 郝邦宇 Steven Hao and Dora nominee Muhaddisah (Crow’s, NAC).
The cast is rounded out by Kiana Woo (Dora winner, Shaw Festival, Soulpepper), Augusta “Gus” Monet (Apothecary Theatre), Richard Allen Campbell (Video Cabaret, Theatre Rusticle), Kevin Hammond (Humber River Shakespeare) and Keshia Palm (Modern Times Stage Company).
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 seldomly-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.
How do we face cruelty?
For their 2024/25 season, Shakespeare BASH’d examines the nature of cruelty – a cruelty full of vengeance and ignorance, fated and malicious. It’s hidden, private and social. It’s a cruelty within us all. Presenting a season of three classic plays, all exploring a version of cruelty and its repercussions, they’ll delve into the impacts and results of malice, oppression and persecution in a variety of forms.
(Photo credits: Shakespeare BASH’d.)
Event details
Hosted by: Shakespeare BASH’d
Type of event: staged play reading
Featuring: Marion Adler, Richard Allen Campbell, Tristan Claxton, Kevin Hammond, 郝邦宇 Steven Hao, Kate Martin, Augusta “Gus” Monet, Muhaddisah, Keshia Palm, Scott Wentworth, Kiana Woo & Jeff Yung. Read about the cast here.
Date: Sunday, November 17, 2024
Start time: 2:00 PM ET
Duration: approximately 2.5 hours (including intermission)
Cost: $20.00
Location: Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St, 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+. Mature content, violence and murder.
Accessibility: Readings are held on the first floor of the bar. Washrooms are on the second floor and in the basement, accessed via stairs, and are not wheelchair accessible.
Refund policy: Please contact the organizer.