Shakespeare BASH'd 2024/25 Season
“strange apparent cruelty”
How do we face cruelty? A cruelty that is 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, we’ll delve into the impacts and results of malice, oppression, and persecution in a variety of forms.
“strange apparent cruelty”
How do we face cruelty? A cruelty that is 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, we’ll delve into the impacts and results of malice, oppression, and persecution in a variety of forms.
The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare
February 13-23, 2025, at The Theatre Centre Incubator
February 13-23, 2025, at The Theatre Centre Incubator
This season’s mainstage production is one of the most controversial and divisive plays ever written. BASH’d will bring together a group of predominantly Jewish artists, under the direction of BASH’d Co-Artistic Director Julia Nish-Lapidus, bringing their varied lived experiences to scrutinize how we can approach this play today.
Led by Alon Nashman in the role of Shylock, this passionate, intelligent group of artists will investigate the anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and racism in this play, and ask how can we make something new and reflect the world we see in front of us? This play will challenge us at our core to ask that question.
Award-winning performer Alon Nashman (Stratford Festival, NAC, Tarragon, 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, 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, Dora winner Arielle Zamora (Shakespeare in Action, Convergence Theatre) as Solanio, with BASH’d Co-Artistic Director James Wallis as the Duke and Tubal.
The production will be stage managed by M Fera, with sound design by Matt Nish-Lapidus, and lighting design by Sruthi Suresan.
Led by Alon Nashman in the role of Shylock, this passionate, intelligent group of artists will investigate the anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and racism in this play, and ask how can we make something new and reflect the world we see in front of us? This play will challenge us at our core to ask that question.
Award-winning performer Alon Nashman (Stratford Festival, NAC, Tarragon, 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, 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, Dora winner Arielle Zamora (Shakespeare in Action, Convergence Theatre) as Solanio, with BASH’d Co-Artistic Director James Wallis as the Duke and Tubal.
The production will be stage managed by M Fera, with sound design by Matt Nish-Lapidus, and lighting design by Sruthi Suresan.
The Spanish Tragedy, by Thomas Kyd
November 17, 2024, at the Monarch Tavern
a staged reading
November 17, 2024, at the Monarch Tavern
a staged reading
One of the most influential plays in the early modern theatre, this theatrically stunning play tells the violent tale of Hieronimo’s revenge of his son’s murder. It is brutally beautiful, while mixing forms of comedy, tragedy, and renaissance ghost story, to create a haunting tale, which is essential to our understanding of Shakespeare’s theatre.
This one-day-only staged reading features Stratford Festival stars Scott Wentworth and Marion Adler as Hieronimo and Isabella.
They are joined by Dora nominees Kate Martin (BASH’d, YPT), Tristan Claxton (BASH’d, Cahoots), and Jeff Yung (BASH’d, Factory, Luminato) as Lorenzo, Balthazar, and the Ghost of Andrea. Alongside rising Stratford star 郝邦宇 Steven Hao as Horatio, and Dora nominee Muhaddisah (Crow’s, NAC) as Bel-Imperia.
The cast is rounded out by Kiana Woo (Dora winner, Shaw Festival, Soulpepper), Augusta “Gus” Monet (Apothecary Theatre), Richard Alan Campbell (Video Cabaret, Theatre Rusticle), Kevin Hammond (Humber River Shakespeare), and Keshia Palm (Modern Times Stage Company).
This one-day-only staged reading features Stratford Festival stars Scott Wentworth and Marion Adler as Hieronimo and Isabella.
They are joined by Dora nominees Kate Martin (BASH’d, YPT), Tristan Claxton (BASH’d, Cahoots), and Jeff Yung (BASH’d, Factory, Luminato) as Lorenzo, Balthazar, and the Ghost of Andrea. Alongside rising Stratford star 郝邦宇 Steven Hao as Horatio, and Dora nominee Muhaddisah (Crow’s, NAC) as Bel-Imperia.
The cast is rounded out by Kiana Woo (Dora winner, Shaw Festival, Soulpepper), Augusta “Gus” Monet (Apothecary Theatre), Richard Alan Campbell (Video Cabaret, Theatre Rusticle), Kevin Hammond (Humber River Shakespeare), and Keshia Palm (Modern Times Stage Company).
The Man of Mode, by George Etheredge
May 4, 2025, at the Monarch Tavern
a staged reading
May 4, 2025, at the Monarch Tavern
a staged reading
The restoration of the theatres was a monumental moment in theatrical history, and sparked a creative happening which brought forth some of the most enduring comedies ever written. Etheredge’s hilarious play was prototypical and one of the most biting of the genre. Dorimant’s rakishness defies the elite society trying to woo, wed, and bed indiscriminately. We are so excited to dip our minds into the world of Restoration comedy.
This one-day-only staged reading features Dora winner James Graham (Howland, BASH’d, Murdoch Mysteries) as Dorimant, Dora nominee Madelaine Hodges (賀美倫) (BASH’d, TPM/Silk Bath Collective) as Harriet, and John Wamsley (Stratford Festival, Canadian Stage) as Sir Fopling Flutter.
They are joined by Cameron Grant (Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival) as Young Bellair, Dora nominee Breanne Tice (BASH’d, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival) as Belinda, Dora winner Deivan Steele (Manitoba TYP, Shakespeare by the Sea) as Medley, Emma Nelles (BNE Theatre) as Emilia, and Kate McArthur (A Company of Fools, Bygone Theatre) as Mrs. Lovewit.
Rounding out the ensemble are David Mackett (BASH’d, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival), Mairi Babb (Mirvish, Harold Green Jewish Theatre), Lesley Robertson (BASH’d, Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival), and Isabelle Ellis (Panoply Theatre Collective).
This one-day-only staged reading features Dora winner James Graham (Howland, BASH’d, Murdoch Mysteries) as Dorimant, Dora nominee Madelaine Hodges (賀美倫) (BASH’d, TPM/Silk Bath Collective) as Harriet, and John Wamsley (Stratford Festival, Canadian Stage) as Sir Fopling Flutter.
They are joined by Cameron Grant (Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival) as Young Bellair, Dora nominee Breanne Tice (BASH’d, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival) as Belinda, Dora winner Deivan Steele (Manitoba TYP, Shakespeare by the Sea) as Medley, Emma Nelles (BNE Theatre) as Emilia, and Kate McArthur (A Company of Fools, Bygone Theatre) as Mrs. Lovewit.
Rounding out the ensemble are David Mackett (BASH’d, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival), Mairi Babb (Mirvish, Harold Green Jewish Theatre), Lesley Robertson (BASH’d, Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival), and Isabelle Ellis (Panoply Theatre Collective).
In order to make this ambitious season the best it can be, we need your help!
We are working to crowdfund $5000 to help us cover some of the costs of this season.
The truth of the matter is that theatre requires a great deal of money and each season costs grow and require an increased budget. We at Shakespeare BASH’d are committed to giving increasing support to our artists, who will receive the entirety of our box office revenue.
Our goal is to raise money to pay for preliminary costs for the productions this season. We aim to keep costs low, work hard to make our shows simple, and try to allow no waste of time or money in our work.
We are dedicated to bringing you a hard-working company, great text, and an accessible, fantastic night for all at a great Toronto venue! Every dollar donated goes a long way to helping make this possible.
Check-out the campaign and consider making a donation. For various donor levels, there are great perks available, including tickets, Shakespeare BASH'd merch, our undying thanks and gratitude, and much more!
We are working to crowdfund $5000 to help us cover some of the costs of this season.
The truth of the matter is that theatre requires a great deal of money and each season costs grow and require an increased budget. We at Shakespeare BASH’d are committed to giving increasing support to our artists, who will receive the entirety of our box office revenue.
Our goal is to raise money to pay for preliminary costs for the productions this season. We aim to keep costs low, work hard to make our shows simple, and try to allow no waste of time or money in our work.
We are dedicated to bringing you a hard-working company, great text, and an accessible, fantastic night for all at a great Toronto venue! Every dollar donated goes a long way to helping make this possible.
Check-out the campaign and consider making a donation. For various donor levels, there are great perks available, including tickets, Shakespeare BASH'd merch, our undying thanks and gratitude, and much more!
Tickets for individual productions will be made available at a later date. Sign-up for our mailing list to be the first to know! Click here.
The company!
Julia Nish-Lapidus, Co-Founder & Co-Artistic Director
James Wallis, Co-Founder & Co-Artistic Director
Daniel Briere, Associate Artistic Director
Jade Douris-O’Hara, Resident Artist
Drew Douris-O’Hara, Resident Artist
Catherine Rainville, Resident Artist
Season artwork by Matt Nish-Lapidus.
James Wallis, Co-Founder & Co-Artistic Director
Daniel Briere, Associate Artistic Director
Jade Douris-O’Hara, Resident Artist
Drew Douris-O’Hara, Resident Artist
Catherine Rainville, Resident Artist
Season artwork by Matt Nish-Lapidus.