Canadian Stage celebrates 43 years of High Park performances with a production of one of Shakespeare’s most loved romantic comedies, Twelfth Night.
About the Play
One of Shakespeare’s most adored romantic comedies and a playful confection perfect for summer evenings, Twelfth Night is a sparkling comedy of playful schemes and tangled romances beginning when a young woman, Viola, is shipwrecked.
Alone and afraid, and thinking her brother has drowned, Viola disguises herself as a man and secures work for a local duke, initiating a complex web of mistaken identities and ill-fated love affairs. As true selves are revealed and hearts collide, Twelfth Night delivers laughter, music, and the joyful chaos of love.
The first recorded performance of Twelfth Night was on February 2nd, 1602, on the celebration of Candlemas and the title of the play refers to the twelfth night after Christmas, a day associated at the time with disguise, dancing, and disorder. It is considered one of Shakespeare’s most musical plays. The play features multiple songs performed by the character Feste (the Fool), which are integral to the plot and atmosphere; sometimes the play is referred to as a musical comedy.
Interview with Farhang Ghajar
In lead up to the official opening of Twelfth Night at High Park, I had the pleasure of speaking with Farhang Ghajar. We chat about making his debut with Canadian Stage’s Dream in High Park as Duke Orsino, his connection to Twelfth Night and more.
Production Team
Award-winning multihyphenate talent Gregory Prest, part of the acclaimed ensemble of Canadian Stage’s production of The Inheritance, makes his High Park directing debut with Twelfth Night.
Featuring a sparkling cast led by Caroline Toal as Viola making her Dream in High Park debut, with Ghazal Azarbad, Farhang Ghajar (also in his Dream in High Park debut), Steven Sutcliffe, Rick Roberts, Mike Shara, Navtej Sandhu, Justin Otto, Ori Black, Ray Jacildo, Deivan Steele, and Alicia Barban.
Joining Prest on the creative team are set and costume designer Sim Suzer, lighting designer Logan Raju Cracknell, sound designer Olivia Wheeler, text coach Tim Welham, and fight director Anita Nittoly.
Dream In High Park Info
Building on the popularity of the company’s beloved Dog Night, this year’s programming invites audiences to experience Twelfth Night alongside other themed activations, community celebrations, and playful pre-show experiences that embrace the joy, romance, and spirit of Shakespeare’s comedy.
Twelfth Night runs July 12th through September 6th. Performances take place Tuesday through Saturday at 8:00pm with Sunday performances now offered at 7:00pm. For schedule, tickets and other details, please visit canadianstage.com.
Photos courtesy of Canadian Stage.
