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Guelph Celebrates the Bard

From Arts in Guelph - January/February, 2007

by Anna Contini

William Shakespeare is considered to be one of the world's greatest playwrights. His words continue to permeate all aspects of our culture and in many cases have become pearls of wisdom. Now Guelph will pay tribute to this legendary icon in a community-wide celebration spearheaded by Guelph Arts Council, the University of Guelph, Stratford Festival and the City of Guelph. Shakespeare - Made in Canada takes place January to May 2007 and features a range of theatrical and musical performances, film and video offerings, visual art and museum exhibitions and so much more in virtually every discipline. The project has involved local and regional arts and cultural organizations, businesses and educational institutions all working under the thematic umbrella of Shakespeare.

"The depth and breadth of programming that has been developed by our arts and cultural organizations is truly outstanding, and the groundswell of commitment to this project has attracted the support of local business leaders, government and public officials," says Sue Bennett, Project Manager of Shakespeare - Made in Canada and Director of Community Relations at the University of Guelph. "Their enthusiasm and dedication to this project establishes a benchmark in excellence in community co-operation for which we are all truly indebted," says Bennett.

The cornerstone of the city-wide festival will be the Sanders portrait, a highly-esteemed work of art purported to be of Shakespeare. The portrait is, in fact, the catalyst that sparked the whole idea of a Shakespeare festival. It will be on display at Macdonald Stewart Art Centre (MSAC) until June, along with some fascinating scientific, documentary and genealogical evidence contributing to the provenance of the portrait. Other complementary exhibits include The Shakespeare Effect - Canadian Adaptations of Shakespeare with new and archival materials from several sources; Possible Worlds - Designing for Shakespeare in Canada; The Bard and Contemporary Portraiture with contemporary works by seventeen Canadian artists who are (re)defining the portrait genre; Stratford Festival of Canada - Contributions to the World Stage illustrating stage and technical design and production innovations that have influenced world theatre; and Tongues in Trees, local artist Dawn Matheson's "audio intervention" in the Donald Forster Sculpture Park, featuring Shakespeare's best-know monologues recited by amateur actors. The multi-faceted Shakespeare - Made in Canada exhibit will run January 12 to June 10 at MSAC.

The Shakespeare festivities kick off with a Gala Opening on January 11, 7:30 p.m. at MSAC. Highlights will include costumed staff, entertainment, presentations and words from special guests such as Lloyd Sullivan, owner of the Sanders portrait, and Alastair Summerlee, President of the University of Guelph.

Guelph Museums will also be mounting several Shakespeare-related exhibits. "We knew immediately that we wanted to be involved in this initiative and have taken this opportunity to work with other community groups," says Katherine McCracken, Director of Guelph Museums. They will be hosting three exhibits: Much Ado About Lettering by Royal City Calligraphy Guild, and As You Like it: A History of Shakespeare Performances in Guelph, both running February 9 to April 29; as well as What We Will: A Tribute to Shakespeare by the Guelph Studio Tour, February 9 to June 24. For youngsters, Guelph Children's Museum will be offering both an exhibit called A Guelph Child's Perspective on Shakespeare January 16 to April 1, and Life in Shakespeare's Time March Break Camp March 12 to 16.

For those interested in a smorgasbord of visual art delights, Barber Gallery will offer Fire in the Head: Shakespeare Edition - A Peasant's Banquet, featuring the works of forty regional artists. The exhibit runs March 17 to April 17 with a celebratory opening feast and period entertainment.

On the theatre front, the area will come alive with several bard-inspired performances. Theatre Guelph will be mounting a full-length production of one of Shakespeare's most famous comedies, The Merry Wives of Windsor, March 30 to April 5 at the River Run Centre. Other productions include Grinder Productions' All My Sins Remembered February 1 to 3 at the Fergus Grand Theatre; Guelph Little Theatre's Measure For Measure March 8 to 11; Touchmark Theatre's Bell, Book and Candle February 16 to 24 and Willpower, a one-man show featuring Rod Beattie, on May 24 at River Run Centre; and Keith and Rosalind Slater's participation in Dinner with Shakespeare: a Staged Reading March 2 at Zesty's Restaurant. For youngsters, Wellington County Museum has arranged for Dufflebag Theatre to present Romeo and Juliet May 16 at Fergus Grand Theatre.

Nowhere has the Shakespearean theme been so zealously embraced as within the local world of music. Tactus Vocal Ensemble is a Guelph-based octet that performs primarily a cappella. They are one of the few performing groups in Canada with vast experience performing Shakespeare's music, so their participation was a natural, says founding member Glenn Peirson. Tactus will present A Day in the Life of Will, music and writings from Shakespeare's time with guest instrumentalists and actors, May 5 at Guelph Youth Music Centre. The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra will kick off the year with Poetry, Passion & Politics January 10 at River Run Centre; and the Gallery Chamber Players present Shakespeare and Music January 14 at Wellington County Museum and Archives. Other musical offerings include Guelph Symphony Orchestra's Musick of Shakespeare February 18; Suzuki String School's Annual Spring Concert: Shakespeare in Music April 29; Guelph Youth Singers' If Music be the Food of Love May 26 and Rainbow Chorus' Shakespearean Rainbows May 26 at Harcourt Memorial United Church.

The works of Shakespeare will also be celebrated within the realm of video and film. Each year Ed Video Media Arts Centre supports a project designed to assist in audience development and outreach to under-represented groups in the community. In response to the community-wide festival, this year Ed Video put out a call for proposals for projects "of an innovative nature and reflecting the artist's own creativity using the Bard as a springboard," says Project Co-ordinator Liz Dent. Selected works will be screened at the Shakespeare-Inspired Video Premiere May 6 at the Shakespeare Arms. A special Shakespeare Film Festival series is scheduled to take place January 28, February 11 and March 11 at the University of Guelph Library, and other Shakespeare-related films will be screened at The Bookshelf on dates yet to be announced.

Education will be a significant component of the festival and students will be introduced to Shakespeare in new and exciting ways. When U of G's Office of Learning approached local school boards for help in developing an educational component for the festival, Vince Campolongo, Co-ordinator of Secondary Programs for the Wellington Catholic School Board, stepped up to the plate. Volunteers have been working with University staff and faculty to create programming in English, drama, visual arts, history and science. "We've tried to bring some expertise from a variety of disciplines," says Campolongo, crediting the university for their involvement and vision.

School groups will have an opportunity to visit Macdonald Stewart Art Centre to participate in docent-guided tours where they can view the Sanders Portrait and learn about the Stratford Festival. A "learning commons" will feature 'Speare, the literacy arcade game created by the Canadian Adaptations of Shakespeare Project, and other hands-on interactive learning activities. Elementary students will be able to try on costumes from the Stratford Festival, participate in a scavenger hunt and act out their own adaptations of Shakespeare. Older students will learn about the scientific testing methods performed on the Sanders Portrait and take part in a portraiture activity related to their visual arts classes. The educational program is expected to accommodate some

9 000 elementary and secondary students over the five-month span of the festival, while providing unique cross-curricular connections in the arts and sciences.

For students and non-students alike further educational opportunities abound. Macdonald Stewart Art Centre will host a lecture series to complement the Shakespeare - Made in Canada exhibit and events within the community. Lectures will include:

Clearly, the local community has embraced the spirit of the Bard. "Shakespeare - Made in Canada is a unique opportunity for Guelph-Wellington to demonstrate the richness of the quality of life we enjoy," says Bennett acknowledging the numerous individuals who have been instrumental in bringing the project to life. Rob MacKay, Manager of Recreation and Culture for the City of Guelph, echoes this sentiment: "We have been delighted with the overwhelming response and support from community groups. Our hope is that it will draw audiences from both within and outside the community," he says.

Sally Wismer, Executive Director of Guelph Arts Council, has also been instrumental in the development and nurturing of the festival. She notes that "there was an obvious role here for Guelph Arts Council in making the connections with local arts groups and encouraging them to get involved. That close to forty groups are participating is a testament to the vibrancy of the cultural life of this area." In addition, she notes, "Shakespeare - Made in Canada has provided one of those rare opportunities when a broad spectrum of the arts can come together under one umbrella."

In the upcoming months, local residents and visitors alike are warmly invited to join in this exciting community-wide celebration and experience Shakespeare through a multitude of offerings in the visual arts, theatre, music, video and film. If Will were alive in Guelph today, he would be impressed.

For more information on Shakespeare - Made in Canada please contact Guelph Arts Council at 519-936-3280 or gac@sentex.net or visit www.shakespearemadeincanada.ca.