History
Shakespeare BASH'd is an initiative started in 2010 by James Wallis, Julia Nish-Lapidus, and a group of young actors who decided to share their love of Shakespeare and stake a claim in the Toronto theatre community by exploring the works of Shakespeare in a collective environment to allow different perspectives and ideas from the entire company to be focused together. The final performance product would be derived from their own experiences, thoughts, and understanding of the works of Shakespeare and the world they were living in now.
Since 2010, Shakespeare BASH’d has presented over twenty critically acclaimed, sold-out productions and staged readings. They participated in the Toronto Fringe Festival from 2012 to 2016, garnering a cult following for their high-energy productions. They have produced plays across the city of Toronto, in iconic bars such as the Monarch Tavern, Junction City Music Hall, and the Victory Cafe.
Since 2023, they have presented productions at The Theatre Centre, but continue to present their staged readings at their old home, the Monarch Tavern.
Shakespeare BASH'd has twice been named NOW Magazine's Reader's Choice Best Site-Specific Theatre Company, and has received many award nominations and wins.
Production History:
The Man of Mode (a staged reading) by Sir George Etherege – 2025 – Monarch Tavern
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare – 2025 – The Theatre Centre
The Spanish Tragedy (a staged reading) by Thomas Kyd – 2024 – Monarch Tavern
The Knight of the Burning Pestle (a staged reading) by Francis Beaumont – 2024 – Monarch Tavern
The Two Noble Kinsmen by John Fletcher and William Shakespeare – 2024 – The Theatre Centre
Arden of Faversham (a staged reading) by Anonymous – 2023 – Monarch Tavern
The Revenger’s Tragedy (a staged reading) by Thomas Middleton (?) – 2023 – Monarch Tavern
Tis Pity She’s a Whore (a staged reading) by John Ford – 2023 – Monarch Tavern
The Tragedy of King Lear by William Shakespeare – 2023 – The Theatre Centre
Cymbeline by William Shakespeare – 2020 – Junction City Music Hall
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare – 2019 – Monarch Tavern
As You Like It by William Shakespeare – 2019 – Junction City Music Hall
Othello by William Shakespeare – 2019 – Monarch Tavern
The Duchess of Malfi (a staged reading) by John Webster – 2018 – The Baby G
Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare – 2018 – Junction City Music Hall
Richard III by William Shakespeare – 2018 – Monarch Tavern
Volpone or The Fox (a staged reading) by Ben Jonson – 2017 – The Baby G
Gorboduc (a staged reading) by Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville – 2017 – The Social Capital
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare – 2017 – Monarch Tavern
The Changeling (a staged reading) by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley – 2016 – Imperial Pub
The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare – 2016 - Victory Cafe (Toronto Fringe Festival)
Hamlet by William Shakespeare – 2016 – Monarch Tavern
King John by William Shakespeare – 2015 – Junction City Music Hall
Edward II (a staged reading) by Christopher Marlowe – 2015 – Imperial Pub
The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare – 2015 - Victory Cafe (Toronto Fringe Festival)
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare – 2015 – Monarch Tavern
Macbeth by William Shakespeare – 2014 – Monarch Tavern
Love’s Labour’s Lost by William Shakespeare – 2014 - Victory Cafe (Toronto Fringe Festival)
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare – 2013 – 30/30 Bar
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare – 2013 - Victory Cafe (Toronto Fringe Festival)
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare - 2012 – Victory Cafe (Toronto Fringe Festival)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (a staged reading) by William Shakespeare - 2011 - Imperial Pub
Romeo and Juliet (a staged reading) by William Shakespeare - 2010 - Wylde Studio
Since 2010, Shakespeare BASH’d has presented over twenty critically acclaimed, sold-out productions and staged readings. They participated in the Toronto Fringe Festival from 2012 to 2016, garnering a cult following for their high-energy productions. They have produced plays across the city of Toronto, in iconic bars such as the Monarch Tavern, Junction City Music Hall, and the Victory Cafe.
Since 2023, they have presented productions at The Theatre Centre, but continue to present their staged readings at their old home, the Monarch Tavern.
Shakespeare BASH'd has twice been named NOW Magazine's Reader's Choice Best Site-Specific Theatre Company, and has received many award nominations and wins.
Production History:
The Man of Mode (a staged reading) by Sir George Etherege – 2025 – Monarch Tavern
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare – 2025 – The Theatre Centre
The Spanish Tragedy (a staged reading) by Thomas Kyd – 2024 – Monarch Tavern
The Knight of the Burning Pestle (a staged reading) by Francis Beaumont – 2024 – Monarch Tavern
The Two Noble Kinsmen by John Fletcher and William Shakespeare – 2024 – The Theatre Centre
Arden of Faversham (a staged reading) by Anonymous – 2023 – Monarch Tavern
The Revenger’s Tragedy (a staged reading) by Thomas Middleton (?) – 2023 – Monarch Tavern
Tis Pity She’s a Whore (a staged reading) by John Ford – 2023 – Monarch Tavern
The Tragedy of King Lear by William Shakespeare – 2023 – The Theatre Centre
Cymbeline by William Shakespeare – 2020 – Junction City Music Hall
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare – 2019 – Monarch Tavern
As You Like It by William Shakespeare – 2019 – Junction City Music Hall
Othello by William Shakespeare – 2019 – Monarch Tavern
The Duchess of Malfi (a staged reading) by John Webster – 2018 – The Baby G
Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare – 2018 – Junction City Music Hall
Richard III by William Shakespeare – 2018 – Monarch Tavern
Volpone or The Fox (a staged reading) by Ben Jonson – 2017 – The Baby G
Gorboduc (a staged reading) by Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville – 2017 – The Social Capital
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare – 2017 – Monarch Tavern
The Changeling (a staged reading) by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley – 2016 – Imperial Pub
The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare – 2016 - Victory Cafe (Toronto Fringe Festival)
Hamlet by William Shakespeare – 2016 – Monarch Tavern
King John by William Shakespeare – 2015 – Junction City Music Hall
Edward II (a staged reading) by Christopher Marlowe – 2015 – Imperial Pub
The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare – 2015 - Victory Cafe (Toronto Fringe Festival)
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare – 2015 – Monarch Tavern
Macbeth by William Shakespeare – 2014 – Monarch Tavern
Love’s Labour’s Lost by William Shakespeare – 2014 - Victory Cafe (Toronto Fringe Festival)
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare – 2013 – 30/30 Bar
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare – 2013 - Victory Cafe (Toronto Fringe Festival)
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare - 2012 – Victory Cafe (Toronto Fringe Festival)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (a staged reading) by William Shakespeare - 2011 - Imperial Pub
Romeo and Juliet (a staged reading) by William Shakespeare - 2010 - Wylde Studio