Returning to The Theatre Centre after two-years of sold-out runs, Shakespeare BASH’d is set to tackle one of the Bard’s most challenging and controversial plays: The Merchant of Venice.
The production brings together an all-star cast including BASH’d regulars, multiple award winners, and Toronto theatre favourites, under the direction of Julia Nish-Lapidus (BASH’d and St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival Co-Artistic Director).
After years of reading and examination, the company has assembled a team of mostly Jewish artists to dig deep into the play which has often been about Jewish people, but regularly omits Jewish artists from productions.
Award-winning performer Alon Nashman (Stratford Festival, NAC, Soulpepper) 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) as Launcelot Gobbo, Brittany Kay(TIFT, GCTC, Upper Canada Playhouse) as Nerissa, Ori Black (Winnipeg Jewish Theatre) as Lorenzo, Cameron Scott (Smile Theatre) as Jessica, Dora nominee Adriano Reis (ARC Stage) as Salerio and Prince of Arragon, Neta J. Rose (TACTICS) as Gratiano, Dora winner Arielle Zamora (Shakespeare in Action) as Solanio, Carson Somanlall (86 Me: The Restaurant Play) as Prince of Morocco, with BASH’d Co-Artistic Director James Wallis as the Duke and Tubal.
This passionate group of artists will investigate the antisemitism, xenophobia, and racism in this play, asking how we can make something new and reflect the world as it is today.
Julia Nish-Lapidus and I had the opportunity to discuss her work with Shakespeare BASH’d, her complicated relationship to this play, and her hopes for audiences to engage and reflect, while enjoying one of Shakespeare’s famous texts.
Shakespeare BASH’d’s The Merchant of Venice runs at The Theatre Centre from February 13 – 23, 2025. Production details and tickets are available online at shakespearebashd.com.
Image Credit: Alon Nashman as Shylock, photo by Matt Nish-Lapidus.
