Company Mandate
Shakespeare in Action was established in 1988 by Founding Artistic Director, Michael Kelly. We continue to bring Shakespeare to young people across Ontario through innovative programs and critically acclaimed theatre productions.
Shakespeare in Action is a multi-racial theatre company that aspires to enhance the arts and education through exploring and performing Shakespeare's plays. We are dedicated to fostering literacy, enhancing creativity and promoting speech arts by making the language and stories of Shakespeare accessible and relevant to young audiences, their families and the community. Shakespeare in Action seeks to inspire audiences of all ages to discover Shakespeare's universal truths in our everyday world, showing the influence classical theatre has within our community. We accomplish this by:
- Presenting fresh Canadian interpretations of Shakespeare and other classical and contemporary stories that are relevant to young audiences and their families and the community
- Promoting a multi-cultural company of interdisciplinary artists that is engaged with and reflects our diverse community AND
- Creating the audience of the future through our productions, projects and outreach programs.
Shakespeare in Action is a not-for-profit organization registered with the Canadian Revenue Agency: Charity Registration Number: 12721 1571 RR0001
Shakespeare in Action operates under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Actors Equity Association, and is proudly a member of many professional organizations including PACT, TAPA and Theatre Ontario.
Our History
1988 BARD COMES ALIVE IN METRO-CLASSROOMS: Kids are loving it
“The program is innovative, improvisational, flexible" Bill Taylor The Toronto Star
1991 SHAKESPEARE MODERNIZED FOR NEW AUDIENCES: Impacts upon young offenders.
“Smart actors have found a way to teach Shakespeare with action” Eric Malling W5
1993 SHAKESPEARE GOES TO KINDERGARTEN: A program for K-6.
“At schools all across Southern Ontario, something special is happening. Shakespeare is coming to class in a way he never did before.” Rita Tonnelli Global TV, Kids Beat
1994 DEMYSTIFYING THE BARD: Learn Shakespeare by doing Shakespeare.
“Students actors cracking language barrier to see how he uses it to address important human questions” Bill Henry The Sun Times
1996 MAIN STAGE PROGRAM SIA: Innovative production of Romeo & Juliet.
“Why has this company been kept away from the public for so long when they do such interesting work?’’ Geoff Chapman The Toronto Star
1997 TEACHING SHAKESPEARE SUMMER INSTITUTE: Established at York University, Toronto
“I gained new strategies and maybe even more important, renewed enthusiasm for teaching Shakespeare. Thank you”. Denise Graves
1998 LEARNING TO LOVE SHAKESPEARE: Interesting Canadians we're glad we've met
“Michael Kelly founder of Toronto’s Shakespeare in Action believes that by experiencing Shakespeare, kids learn some history while they design sets and costumes, some music while they figure out how to accompany their own performance and a whole lot of self-confidence when they realize they’ve tackled a playwright who has been known to terrify teachers.” Cate Cochran, Canadian Living Magazine
1999 INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS DOWN UNDER: Behold, a changed Bard
“Learning about the Bard was never this much fun. Michael Kelly uses repetition, encouragement, pace and limitless energy, the end result after half an hour’s intensive workout well, dramatic. This is how the director of Canadian-based Shakespeare in Action has passed his love of Shakespeare onto thousands of people around the world.” Lynn Freeman The Herald, NZ
2000 SHAKESPEARE FOR KIDZ SUMMER PROGRAM: Summer program for children from 7-12
Critically acclaimed “innovative and fun” by C.B.C. As It Happens. “Your camp topped the charts, Jessie rated it 110 out of 100” Marie Sheppard, Parent C.B.C
2001 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM: Hit production critically acclaimed.
“A combination of clever staging and an inventive use of shadow play and puppets make it all possible.” Richard Ouzounian,The Toronto Star
2002 EMPOWERING KIDS WITH SHAKESPEARE: Experiencing the creative process.
Shakespeare is” a great point of departure that crosses over to dance, history, art and music, kids begin to fall in love with the language, “ says Kelly, “ Romantic, invigorating, “its empowering for kids of any age” Annemarie Brissenden, The Village Gleaner, Toronto
2004 ARTISTS & THE COMMUNITY: SIA launches innovative program for schools, parents and volunteers that involves the whole school from kindergarten to grade six in the production of a Shakespeare play.
“This production of the “Tempest” gave all the children at Givins/Shaw a chance to participate regardless of background and religion.”Karen Mackenna, Parent
2007 READERS THEATRE SATURDAY CLUB: in Association with Toronto Public Libraries. Children participate in a six-week workshop exploring the language of Shakespeare. “Just a note to say how much the kids really enjoyed the library program. It really helped our son to be more literate and increased his speech arts.” Beth Gibson, Parent
2008 MASK & MADNESS IN MACBETH: “The eye catching production shines a gaudy and sometimes revealing new light on Macbeth” Jon Caplan, Now Magazine
2009 SUDDENLY SHAKESPEARE: Inaugural Shakespeare Family Series production at Lillian H. Smith Library.
2009 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM: remounted production of our celebrated production.
2009 Shakespeare in Action becomes an Artist Company in Residence at Central Commerce Collegiate Institute.
Photograph above by Joel Charlebois. (L to R) Marcel Stewart as Benvolio, Brendan McMurtry-Howlett as Tybalt and Ryan Field as Mercutio. Romeo and Juliet, 2010.