The 2023 Cowichan Valley Shakespeare Festival

add to outlook add to google calendar remind me

Saturday, August 19th, 2023
August 10, 11, 12 and 17, 18, 19 at 7:30 pm, August 13 and 20 at 2:00 pm.

This is the twelfth year in a row that The Shawnigan Players are presenting a full live theatre show with a large cast in colourful costumes under the August sky. At the gorgeous and pastoral Gem O' the Isle (2465 Koksilah Road, Cowichan Station).

Near-death, forced love, and a heroine in disguise: All’s Well that Ends Well offers classic Shakespeare comedy, adding into the mix a variety of more serious reflections that explore the deeper themes of life and love and what prompts us to make the choices we do, as we live out the ‘mingled yarn’ of our life, ‘good and ill together’, as noted early on in the play.

The story: girl likes boy, fenagles a way to rope him into marriage, but alas, must still earn his love––an awkward order of love events for all, to be sure. And as he is wont, Shakespeare shows a historically precocious respect for the agency of women, creating yet another heroic and well-rounded heroine to lead us through her-story, and through all manner of trials and tribulations, demonstrating that in the end, despite all the difficulties, indeed ‘love is holy’.

And while not just a romp in the park, under the direction of our own Alex Gallacher, and including many faces familiar to Cowichan theatre, as well as new faces and talents, the Shawnigan Players do offer a beautiful performance set in the magical orchard at Gem O’The Isle Farm––fast becoming a hallmark of Cowichan summers for Shakespeare lovers here on the island and beyond.

Tickets also available from Ten Old Books in the Duncan Garage. If all else fails, contact [email protected].

Please, do us a favour and share this event with your friends, by word of mouth, by e-mail and/or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. Thank you!