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Free Will Players

Free Will Players is a not-for-profit, professional theatre company which produces the Freewill Shakespeare Festival each summer in Edmonton, Alberta. The Players typically present two Shakespeare plays, a comedy and a tragedy, running alternate nights for six weeks in June and July. Performances take place in the 1,100 seat Heritage Amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park, rain or shine, come hail or high water.

FWP was founded in 1989 by members of the graduating class of the Bachelor of Fine Arts Program at the University of Alberta. Its mission statement is “to create professional, contemporary, innovative productions of the works of William Shakespeare, accessible to audiences of all ages, education, and income levels, while developing the audience and theatre professionals of the future." FWP productions are based in contemporary interpretations of the text, themes, characters, and action of Shakespeare’s plays. Productions are set in innovative, imaginative worlds in order to appeal to a diverse audience, and to incorporate the ambiance of an outdoor park setting (indeed, the company always lists Mother Nature as “Ambiance Director” in its programs).

The 2005 season featured Romeo and Juliet as a conflict between rival street gangs, and Love’s Labour’s Lost as a 1950s encounter between a Hollywood star and a Moroccan prince. In 2007, FWP presented a A Winter's Tale as a powerful story of self-inflicted madness, renewal and redemption; and a musical adaptation of The Two Gentlemen of Verona. In 2008, the company presented a domestic study of Richard III and his complex and complicit relationship with the audience, set in WWII England; and an energetic As You Like It, set in the 1950s in North America, with Mafia Boss Frederick and his enforcer Angelo. Touchstone is a nightclub comedien, and Jacques a beat poet.

Prominent and popular Edmonton actors in the roles include John Wright , Marianne Copithorne , John Kirkpatrick , Julien Arnold, Jeff Page , Daniela Vlaskalic, Chris Bullough, Troy O'Donnell, Annette Loiselle, and Paul Morgan Donald.

The founding Artistic Director was James MacDonald , followed by John Kirkpatrick for five years. As of 2008 the Artistic Director is Marianne Copithorne. Artistic associates are Julien Arnold, Annette Loiselle, and Troy O’Donnell.

The Free Will Players Young Company offers annual apprenticeships to four theatre students, which include roles in the company’s productions. Camp Shakespeare, founded in 1998, provides the opportunity for youth aged 8 to 16 to take part in a summer camp based in performance, education, and enjoyment of theatre. Led by professional instructors - including members of the FWP repertory company – Camp Shakespeare culminates in presentations prior to a weekend performance of one of the mainstage productions.

FWP has occasionally expanded its mandate to include more innovative projects, productions, venues. Examples include a four-actor adaptation of The Tempest, a musical revue called Shakespeare in Love Songs, a production of The Merry Wives of Windsor on the steps of Edmonton’s City Hall.

In 2003, as part of the 15th Anniversary Celebratory Season, FWP commissioned a new work by Vern Thiessen entitled Shakespeare’s Will, which was produced in association with the Citadel Theatre in its 2004-2005 season.

web site: www.rivercityshakespeare.com

Anne Nothof, Athabasca University

Last updated 2010-02-10