The Freewill Shakespeare Festival (known as the River City Shakespeare Festival from 1998–2009) is produced by The Free Will Players Theatre Guild (FWP) in Edmonton and is one of the longest running outdoor Shakespeare Festivals in Canada. FWP was formed as a not-for-profit theatre company in 1989 by a group of seven recent graduates of the U of A in a truly cooperative, pass-the-hat spirit with the mandate to produce the works of William Shakespeare. Since then, FWP has grown to an organization that employs over 50 artists, administrators, and support staff at the height of the summer season of plays and has drawn over 250,000 people to its productions. In addition, the summer season down at the Heritage Amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park also has over 150 volunteers assisting with the afternoon and evening shows and special events. These volunteers put in over 4000 hours each summer.
FWP’s seasons consist of two fully realized Shakespearean productions that play in repertory over 4 weeks from late June to late July. Productions boast contemporary interpretations of setting, theme, and character to best communicate the plays ideas for a modern audience. Some seasons have also included ancillary events such as an off-site secondary production, guest productions, puppet shows, and Camp Shakespeare. FWP endeavours to make the productions accessible to all audiences, regardless of age, ability, education or income levels, while also developing new audiences and mentoring theatre professionals of the future. In the spirit of the original artists’ ‘pass the hat’ philosophy FWP continues encouraging audiences with Pay-What-You-Will and special pricing for students and seniors.
Due to significant damage to Freewill's traditional venue at the Heritage Amphitheatre, the festival's 2014 season took place inside the Myer Horowitz Theatre in the University of Alberta's Students' Union Building (8900 114 Street).
In 2023 the festival was required move from the venerable Hawrelak Park Heritage Amphitheatre, which has been its home since its founding due to the City of Edmonton's Rehabilitation Project. The 2023 festival was produced inside and around a vintage Spiegeltent set up in the Edmonton Expo Centre parking lot.
The 2024 season will see the Freewill Shakespeare festival set up in four different community leagues across Edmonton, from June 18 to July 14, 2024.
Recent productions
Year Tragedy Comedy Season2023 Romeo and Juliet Twelfth NightAugust 8 - September 32022Measure for MeasureA Midsummer Night's DreamJune 14 – July 102021MacbethMuch Ado About NothingAugust 10 - 29 (travelling shows on-demand)2019The Winter's TaleThe Two Gentlemen of VeronaJune 18 – July 142018HamletThe Comedy of ErrorsJune 19 – July 15 2017 Merchant of Venice The Merry Wives of Windsor June 20 – July 16 2016 Romeo and Juliet Love's Labour's Lost June 21 – July 17 2015 Coriolanus As You Like It June 23 – July 19 2014 cancelled The Taming of the Shrew 2013 King Lear A Midsummer Night's Dream 2012 Julius Caesar The Tempest June 26 - July 22 2011 Othello Twelfth Night June 30 - July 24 2010 Macbeth Much Ado About Nothing 2009 Titus Andronicus The Comedy of Errors June 30 - July 26 2008 Richard III As You Like It June 24 - July 20 2007 Two Gents (musical) The Winter's Tale 2006 Hamlet The Taming of the Shrew 2005 Romeo and Juliet Love's Labour's Lost 2004 The Merchant of Venice Twelfth Night 2003 Henry V A Midsummer Night's Dream 2002 The Tempest The Merry Wives of Windsor 2001 Richard III As You Like It 2000 King Lear Much Ado About Nothing 1999 Macbeth The Two Gentlemen of Verona 1998 Julius Caesar The Comedy of Errors
References
External links Official website: Information on the festival's history and the Free Will Players