Autumn Smith is nothing if not ambitious when it comes to the world of live theatre. Her latest vision is a Shakespeare classic written in 1602 and originally set 2,000 years ago in Rome, now reimagined to Gravenhurst in 1919. Add to that the fact this is an immersive production being held outdoors at the Muskoka Wharf and you have all the makings of an intriguing theatrical experiment.
TimberBeast’s production of Twelfth Night has already enjoyed an initial run under the gazebo at the Wharf and the next run begins on August 25, running until September 3.
“I always wanted to have something there at the Wharf, the background is just so amazing,” says Smith, who also teaches theatre at York university and Centennial college. “We’ve had some of the most stunning sunsets and great weather so far.”
While Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night has been reimagined innumerable ways, Smith decided to give the play a distinctly Muskoka flair.
“Twelfth Night is my favourite Shakespeare play. It’s a story of loss and reclamation. It really wasn’t that difficult to adapt the play to 1919 Gravenhurst,” she says. “At that time the Opera House was thriving, the timber mills were thriving.”
In fact, Timberbeast’s productions are all largely Muskoka-centric.
“We’ve already done a Gravenhurst Christmas Carol, where the town itself became a character in the production. We plan to do that again this year,” she says. “We’re also working on a Halloween walk at the Muskoka Foundry in Bracebridge with Muskoka stories.”
Originally from Oshawa, Smith says she often visited Muskoka as a child and she eventually moved here after meeting her partner, who is from the area.
“Gravenhurst feels like home,” she says. “It’s such a tight-knit community.”
Performances of Twelfth Night are scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. and admission is by donation, with a $20 donation suggested.
You can find the latest information by following TimberBeast productions on Facebook.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox three times per week!
Click here to support local news
Join the discussion: