One of the most controversial & divisive plays ever written
Shakespeare BASH’d continues their 2024/25 season with a mainstage production of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, running from Thursday, February 13 to Sunday, February 23, 2025 at The Theatre Centre Incubator. Under the direction Co-Artistic Director Julia Nish-Lapidus, BASH’d has assembled a group of predominantly Jewish artists for this production, bringing their varied lived experiences to scrutinize how we can approach this play today.
Led by award-winning performer Alon Nashman (Stratford Festival, NAC, Tarragon, Soulpepper) in the role of Shylock, this passionate group of artists will investigate the antisemitism, xenophobia and racism in this play, asking how they can make something new and reflect the world we see in front of us. Full of complicated ideas, characters and contexts, the production will challenge the audience to reflect, while enjoying Shakespeare’s moving and extravagant text.
A favour for a friend gone awry, with potentially fatal consequences
Written by Shakespeare between 1596 and 1598, The Merchant of Venice is part romantic comedy, part drama. It tells the story of Venetian merchant Antonio, who takes out a loan from Jewish money lender Shylock on behalf of his beloved friend Bassanio. Bassanio needs the money to woo Portia, a beautiful, quick-witted and wealthy heiress. When misadventure at sea causes Antonio to default on the loan, he finds himself fighting Shylock in court for his life – as Shylock expects the deadly price of a pound of flesh as repayment. The play contains two well-known speeches: Shylock’s insights on humanity in “Hath not a Jew eyes?” and Portia’s (in disguise as a young male lawyer) courtroom argument “The quality of mercy”.
An all-star cast of regulars, award winners & Toronto theatre favourites
Alon Nashman’s Shylock will be joined by BASH’d regular Jesse Nerenberg (Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival) as the title character Antonio. Howland Company Founding Artistic Leaders and Dora Award winners Hallie Seline and Cameron Laurie will take on Portia and Bassanio.
They are joined by Sofía Contal (St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, Ovation Production) as Launcelot Gobbo, Brittany Kay (TIFT, GCTC, Upper Canada Playhouse) as Nerissa, Ori Black (Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, GCTC) as Lorenzo, Cameron Scott (Smile Theatre) as Jessica, Dora nominee Adriano Reis (ARC Stage, YES Theatre) as the Prince of Arragon, Neta J. Rose (TACTICS, Odyssey) as Gratiano, and Dora winner Arielle Zamora (Shakespeare in Action, Convergence Theatre) as Solanio, with BASH’d Co-Artistic Director James Wallis as the Duke and Tubal.
Join Shakespeare BASH’d in their examination of this demanding play. Seating is limited, and performances will likely fill up quickly, so get your tickets now!
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: theatre performance
Director: Julia Nish-Lapidus
Cast: Ori Black, Sofía Contal, Brittany Kay, Cameron Laurie, Alon Nashman, Jesse Nerenberg, Adriano Reis, Neta J. Rose, Cameron Scott, Hallie Seline, Carson Somanlall, James Wallis & Arielle Zamora. Read about the cast here.
Dates: Thursday, February 13 – Sunday, February 23, 2025
Start times: Tuesdays – Saturdays @ 7:30 PM ET (doors open at 7:15 PM); Sunday matinées @ 2:00 PM ET (doors open at 1:45 PM)
Duration: Approximately 3 hours (including intermission)
Cost: Pay-what-you-like: C$25.00, $35.00 or $50.00
Location: The Theatre Centre, Incubator, 1115 Queen St. W, Toronto, ON, M6J 1J1, Canada.
Booking link: Book your tickets here.
Contact Details: Shakespear BASH’d; admin@shakespearebashd.com, shakespearebashd.com
Accessibility: The Theatre Centre is physically accessible to audiences and artists alike. Each level has a barrier-free washroom and there’s a lift available for public use. If you have questions or need specific accommodations, please email or call the box office at 416-538-0988 and they’ll do their best to help you out. While the box office staff is working from home there will not be anyone on site to answer the phone. Leave a message and they will endeavour to return your call within 24 hours. More info here.
COVID-19 policy: Info here.
Refund policy: Please contact the organizer.