EP 10: Shakespeare and Beyond Shaking Up Shakespeare

In this final episode, the three co-hosts reconvene to identify their key takeaways from the podcast project. They discuss their hopes for the future of Shakespeare in Canada, isolating some recent examples of innovative productions, including the 1S1 production of Lady M (Margaret) starring Dawn Jani Birley and Shakespeare in the Ruff’s Richard Three. The episode (and series) concludes by returning to our interviewees who share some final words on the work that remains, including references to new projects by Deaf and trans artists, and an important reminder to think about what lies beyond Shakespeare.

This episode features conversations with Cole Alvis, Dawn Jani Birley, Liam Lockhart-Rush Monique Mojica, Kaitlyn Riordan, Marlis Schweitzer, and Hope Van Der Merwe..

Episode 10 ⁠ASL translation⁠ courtesy of Dawn Jani Birley. ASL interpretation by Dawn Jani Birley, Robert Haughton, and Alice Lo.

Here are some links to things discussed in the episode and some suggestions for further reading:

1S1 Theatre - a Deaf-led theatre company founded by Dawn Jani Birley

Short video about 1S1’s production of Lady M (Margaret) (with ASL translation)

Guardian article about the Stratford Festival’s production of Richard II, adapted by Brad Fraser

Toronto Star review of Richard II (2023)

Intermission Magazine review of Shakespeare in the Ruff’s Richard Three 

Engendering the Stage - “an international research project that explores resonances between the history of gendered performance on the early modern stage and our contemporary drive to achieve gender equity in today’s professional theatre industry”

Galatea 101 with Emma Frankland and Andy Kesson (video with ASL translation), 2021

Interview with Emma Frankland about the 2023 production of Galatea

Three volumes of Staging Coyote’s Dream, co-edited by Monique Mojica 

Monique Mojica, Chocolate Woman Dreams the Milky Way