2025: Twelfth Night
2024: A Midsummer Night's Dream
2025: Twelfth Night, Or, What You Will
With cross-dressing nobles in a love triangle of mistaken identities, while their guests party and sing all night and their servants plot practical jokes, Twelfth Night, Or, What You Will is one of Shakespeare's most delightful comedies. Beginning with the famous line "If music be the food of love, play on," Twelfth Night is full of songs and music of Shakespeare's era, which our Fairy Band and RenFriends Singers performed live on period instruments.
Twelfth Night's 39 volunteer performers & crew, and 600+ audience members' donations, raised an amazing $11,000 donation for the Bev Shaw Literacy Fund of the Sunshine Coast Foundation. This fund gave a grant to the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts, to bring professional authors as Writers in Residence in schools on the Coast. So our shows will help to grow new potential Shakespeares! Next year we will present As You Like It. Stay tuned!
Read all about us in the Coast Reporter!
Performance Photos and Videos
Slideshow shown at the Cheque Ceremony (by Michael Gurney)
Highlights Video Reel (clips from JoAnne Bennison)
Twelfth Night 2025 PERFORMANCES:
July 4, 5, 10, & 11 @ 7 pm; July 6 & 12 @ 2 pm
At the Rockwood Pavilion, 5511 Shorncliffe Ave, Sechelt, BC.
Reviews!
"We really enjoyed seeing Twelfth Night this afternoon with my mother and husband. I haven’t had the chance to see live Shakespeare in years. The whole production was great: music, costumes and of course the acting which was comic and clever and so well delivered it was easy to understand even the fool’s puns...Well done!" - Lynn McWilliam
"This is a fantastic production! 👏Kudos to Lise Kreps and Michael Gurney (Directors), the actors, musicians, costume designer - catch the show while you can 🎭👏👏👏 - Elizabeth Byrne
""Everybody was fantastic. Please come out and support this very talented group of actors. It’s a very funny play, one of my favourites." - Serena Trinder
"I saw your production of Twelfth Night last night, a wonderful presentation, beautiful music, the costumes, the acting, a thoroughly engaging evening. Congratulations on a job well done." - Paul MacKeigan
"Congratulations on another fantastic show!" - Melinda Oliver
"A riotous comedy!! Brilliant costumes, brilliant music, brilliant performances!!!" - Ingrid Bilton
"Twelfth Night was a charming production, and we had a lot of fun with it on Friday night. Ease, form, beauty and a sense of the whole ... Feste's voice was so ease-ful that we were called to listen with our souls. Her movement was seamless and her spirit full of joy. Viola was terrific. Maria sparkled on stage. Malvolio confronted the narcissism/victimhood of his character - great choice. Sebastian's "this is the air, that is the glorious sun" monologue was alive and expansive. Olivia grew as the play unfolded... and on and on. Every character offered something to be intrigued by. Huge congratulations! Directors, actors, the Fairy Band musicians, gorgeous costume creation.. .and all of the energy that made this such an entertaining, elegant production. We had a great time. Huge CHEERS to everyone. Your initiative and dedication to bringing Shakespearean theatre to the Sunshine Coast is appreciated - and it's growing." - Sally Williams
"Just a short note to say how much I enjoyed Friday evening’s performance. It was a reminder of how much talent we have here on the Coast – actors, musicians, directors, costume design, etc. The whole team deserves a standing ovation! It was lovely to see so many people attending that evening. It’s especially nice knowing the proceeds will increase the impact of Bev’s fund. Please extend a ‘Bravo’ to the whole cast and crew. Thanks for creating this beautiful occasion to gather, while supporting our literacy and literary community through these performances." - Erin Storey, Executive Director, Sunshine Coast Foundation
"The Coast Shakespeare presentation of Twelfth Night at the Rockwood Pavilion in Sechelt is absolutely fantastic! You must go see it!" - Sara Douglas
"Really enjoyed the show last night. Superb performances, fantastic music, and great fun throughout. You’re setting a very high standard for yourselves. We’re all waiting eagerly for next year already!" - Anthony Pare
Twelfth Night Cast
In order of appearance:
ORSINO, Duke of Illyria, in love with Olivia - Mary Beth Pongrac
CURIO, Gentleman attending on the Duke - Alta O'Farrell
VALENTINE, Gentleman attending on the Duke - Willow Rody
VIOLA, a shipwrecked girl mostly disguised as a “Cesareo,” a young man - Tara Blasco
SEA CAPTAIN, friend to Viola - Mac Dodge
SIR TOBY BELCH, Olivia's wastrel uncle - Derry Oshust
SIR ANDREW AGUECHEEK, Sir Toby's foolish friend - Larry Musser
MARIA, Olivia's Lady in Waiting - Angela Cruikshank
FESTE the Fool, Olivia's jester - Elisabeth Lyle
OLIVIA, a rich Countess - Melissah Charboneau
ANTONIO, a Sea Captain, friend to Sebastian - Ruthy Boehm
SEBASTIAN, a young Gentleman, twin brother to Viola - Peter Gray
MALVOLIO, Olivia's conceited butler (steward) - Ean Henninger
FABIAN, Olivia's servant - Lisa Horne
FIRST OFFICER - Alta O'Farrell
SECOND OFFICER - Sean Steele
PRIEST - Willow Rody
Twelfth Night Directors, Designers, Crew and Musicians
Michael Gurney - Director, Lighting Designer, Producer
Lise Kreps - Director, Music Director, Dramaturge, Producer
Marisa Alps - Producer
Bill Forst - Producer for Driftwood Players
Jenny Marguaratt - Stage Manager
Sarah Kushner - Stage Crew
Sara Margueratt - Stage Crew
Robyn Faucher - Costume Designer
Anne Beesack - Costume Assistant
Cedar Neufeld - Costume Assistant
Willow Rody - Costume Assistant
Lilja Swift - Costume Assistant
Linda McTurk - Costume Consultant
Evelyn Schimmel - Makeup and Hair Designer
Ingrid Bilton - Makeup Assistant
Gabriel Ditmars - Dance & Fight Choreographer
Pat Dalgleish - Front of House Manager
The Fairy Band of Musicians:
Karen Baxter - violas da gamba
Albano Berberi - nyckelharpa, keyboard
Maureen Drake - tenor viola da gamba
Lise Kreps - recorders, flute, bass viola da gamba, voice
Heidi Kurtz - harp, flute
Joya Muma - lute, violas da gamba
Juliet O'Keefe - percussion, harp, voice
Corinna Savien - recorder, percussion, voice
The RenFriends Renaissance Consort - voices
Selected Resources for Twelfth Night
Why yellow stockings for Malvolio?
The holiday of Twelfth Night fell at the end of the twelve days of Christmas, on Epiphany. It was celebrated with lively feasting, drinking, cake, merrymaking, plays, and a mock "lord of misrule" or "king for a day."
Twelfth Night Music (all from Shakespeare's time)
Youtube playlist. Click the links below for lyrics, music scores, and translations.
Sing We and Chant It - Morley
Where Griping Grief - Edwards
O Mistresse Mine - Morley
Hold Thy Peace - Ravenscroft
Farewell Dear Heart (parody) - Jones
Pass e Medio - Susato **This is a passamezzo antico bass line for a slow pavane dance - or, as Sir Toby grumbles, a "passymeasures pavin." This chord progression and bass line were used for many other tune variations, including Greensleeves, Childgrove, Tourdion, Bransle de la Torche, Red House, and even some modern pop songs.
Come Away Death (tune: Fortune My Foe)
Bransle de la Torche - Praetorius
Ah Robyn - Cornish
Galliard Le Tout - Susato
2024: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Shakespeare's beloved comedy of fairies and magic, making gentle fun of young lovers and terrible actors, comes to the Coast in July 2024! Read all about us in the CoastReporter. Ticket price is by donation, suggested donation $20 or pay what you can. Proceeds will benefit the Bev Shaw Literacy Fund.
With fairies and enchantments, four impetuous young lovers, and a troupe of foolish but well-intentioned amateur thespians so bad they're hysterically funny, Midsummer Night's Dream remains Shakespeare's most popular comedy. "This is the silliest stuff that ever I heard," observes Hippolyta in Act V.
PERFORMANCES: July 2024
Fri July 5 - 7 pm
Sat July 6 - 2 pm
Fri July 12 - 7 pm
Sat July 13 - 7 pm
At the Rockwood Pavilion, 5511 Shorncliffe Ave, Sechelt, BC
REVIEWS!
"Tour de force! A rousing summer entertainment! I was part of the impressive turnout at Rockwood for yesterday’s matinee, and it struck me that you managed to provide all the ingredients of wonderful community theatre: a multi-generational cast and crew, an eye- and ear-pleasing spectacle of music and costume and movement, a laughing and happy audience, and a joyful sense of community." - Dr. Anthony Paré, Professor (Emeritus) UBC Faculty of Education, and Driftwood Players Director
"I just want to let you know how much I enjoyed the performance of Midsummer Night's Dream last night. It was really outstanding in every way - the acting, the sets, the costumes, the music.... It must have been a lot of work. Thanks so much for taking it on!" - Janice Brunson, Director: A Capella Strait, Choralations, and St John's United Church Choirs
"I was in the audience tonight at Midsummer NIght's Dream. What a wonderful evening! Congratulations for pulling this together, and to the cast who gave their all to provide such entertaining performances. Huge kudos to the musicians, costume creators and all of the other folks who contributed their talents to this production. Very very well done!" - Susan Blockberger, singer and performer: SC Phoenix Choir, Pirates of Penzance
"Alex and I enjoyed your wonderful production of Midsummer Night’s Dream so well last night!! Thank you so much! Wow. I am overwhelmed at the spirit and the talent but even more the hard work that was evident in the production! Every participant obviously enjoyed every minute of it! And thank you making the evening a fundraiser for Bev’s foundation. She would have been thrilled. Brava, one and all!" - Mary Baker, SC Phoenix Choir
"Lois and I attended last night’s performance and were absolutely delighted. Please convey our congratulations to the Director and everyone involved in this highly professional performance. We were simply so impressed by the performers, the set, the costumes and of, course, the music." - Jeanette Panagapka and Lois Choksy, Kodaly Society of Canada Honourary Members
"I was at the show last night and was delighted with what you put together! I didn't know what to expect and I was blown away by so many aspects of the show. What an undertaking! I am so impressed! I hope that the journey has been fulfilling and that you woke up this morning with a tremendous feeling of accomplishment! What a perfect venue for that particular play and I'm so glad you decided to do more than one weekend! That amount of work only for one weekend wouldn't have been fair. Plus this gave the Coast audiences more opportunity to see it. Well done! Bravo! Thank you for your work! VERY Sincerely," - Wanda Nowicki, professional actor and singer; former Off the Page staged readings producer
"Methinks I was transported…
I swear I did not slumber there,
But a tale so fantastic,
Full of mirth, tricks and wordplay,
Tickled the sweet midsummer air
And made us all one with another.
A big Well Done to everyone involved and a heart full of thanks for all your hard work." - Richard Austin, professional actor"It was so funny! The body language was fabulous, I haven't laughed so much in a long time! Titania was really wonderful ✨ and Bottom! And the Lovers, and the Wall, and Puck, and Hippolyta, and, and, and! You all really knocked it out of the park! Congratulations on an amazing show!" - Radhika Samwald, former Story Theatre actor and producer
"An amazing production of Midsummer Nights Dream!!!! Thank you for having the inspiration, the vision, the courage, the creativity. The casting is flawless. And the play was fabulous: the makeup (sparkles, flowers, yeah!!) and the sheer physicality of the blocking/ choreography (especially the Mechanicals and the sword fight) and the perfect Puckishness of Puck… I could go on!! We laughed til we cried!!! You are inspiring! I will be back, once is not enough!" - Irene Bradley, Story Theatre actor
PHOTOS AND VIDEO
Sarah and Juno Noni as Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, and Fairy Moth.
Mac Dodge as Theseus, Duke of (a digital) Athens.
Production photos by Michael Gurney and from Marissa Fischer
Video of full show July 13 2024
Our production's Abridged Midsummer Script (v04 as of Apr 19, 2024)
CAST (in order of appearance)
Mac Dodge...Theseus, Duke of Athens
Sarah Noni...Hippolyta, Bride to Theseus and former Amazon Queen
Maria Nightingale...Attendant to Hippolyta
Marissa Fischer...Philostrate, Master of Revels to Theseus; and Snout/Wall
Lisa Horne...Egeus
Elisabeth Lyle...Hermia
Peter Gray...Demetrius
Gabriel Ditmars...Lysander
Melissah Charboneau...Helena
Penny Connell...Quince
Ean Henninger...Bottom/Pyramus
Thaelo Proctor...Flute/Thisbe
Charlotte Gray...Starveling/Moonshine
Sean Steele...Snug/Lion
Alta O'Farrell...Puck, Fairy servant to Oberon
Maeve Fynn-Richards...Fairy - Peaseblossom
Haelyn Treliving...Fairy - Mustardseed
Juno Noni...Fairy - Moth
Zoe McGregor...Fairy - Cobweb
Patrick Moore...Oberon, King of the Fairies
Joyce Parry-Moore...Titania, Queen of the Fairies
Mathilda Johnson...Changeling Child
Francesca Ryan...Cowslip, Fairy servant to Titania
Laila Iacovetta...Fairy - Snowdrop
DESIGNERS & CREW
Michael Gurney...Director, Producer, Lighting Designer
Lise Kreps...Director, Producer, Dramaturge, Music Director
Bill Forst...Producer for Driftwood Players
Marisa Alps...Producer, House Manager
Tara Blasco...Assistant Director
Charlotte Gray...Stage Manager
Monica Davis...Audition Stage Manager
Francesca Ryan...Fairy Wrangler, Dance Captain
Gabriel Ditmars...Fight Choreographer, Dance Captain
Ingrid Bilton...Consultant, Makeup Assistant
Linda McTurk...Costume Designer
Lynda Carlson...Costume Assistant
Angela Minten...Costume Assistant
Evelyn Schimmel...Makeup Designer
Maggie-Rose Hershler...Makeup Assistant
Dominique Hutchinson...Makeup Assistant
Sarah Kushner...Makeup Assistant
Maria Nightingale...Props Assistant
Megin Houle...Props Assistant
Jeanne Sommerfeld...Props Assistant
Jenny Margueratt...Sound/Lights Operator
Fairy Band:
Karen Baxter...Violas da Gamba
Maureen Drake...Voice, Viola da Gamba
Jon Eriksson...Recorders, Bassoon, Trombone
Lise Kreps...Voice, Recorders, Flute, Viola da Gamba
Heidi Kurz...Voice, Flute, Harp
Juliet O'Keefe...Voice, Harp
Sarah Poon...Viola da Gamba
RenFriends Renaissance Consort...Voices
Midsummer Staged Reading, by Gibsons & District Public Library, in Winegarden Park, Gibsons, 2022.
Sunshine Coast Community Shakespeare Project
coastshakespeare ( at ) gmail.com
We are fortunate and grateful to work and play in ch'atlich (Sechelt), on the unceded ancestral lands of the shíshálh Nation.