May 10, 2024… Experience a mystical world of adventure-filled drama as Shakespeare’s Cymbeline begins at the Tom Patterson Theatre. Lucy Peacock takes on the title role with Allison Edwards-Crewe as her daughter, Innogen, in this comedic yet tragic romance directed by Esther Jun.
Forbidden love. Familial strife. Political intrigue. In Cymbeline, the final play from Shakespeare’s First Folio, the playwright fuses romance, comedy and tragedy to create a unique fantasia brimming with mistaken identities and gender-swapping disguises. Cymbeline’s daughter, Innogen, one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated heroines, is thrust into the world of court politics and ruthless personal ambitions when she chooses a lover beneath her station. Deceived by the dastardly Iachimo, a worthy contender for the Bard’s all-time greatest villain, Innogen must fight to protect her honour and agency.
“Cymbeline brings together all the things I truly love and hold dear about theatre,” says Jun. “It is a play full of magic and beauty, and to me, it’s Shakespeare at his finest.”
Cymbeline features Jonathan Goad as Belarius, Jordin Hall as Posthumus Leonatus, Irene Poole as Pisanio, and Tyrone Savage as Iachimo with Christopher Allen as Cloten, Noah Beemer as Arviragus, Caleigh Crow as Lady in Waiting, Cynthia Jimenez-Hicks as Philarmonus (Soothsayer), Matthew Kabwe as Caius Lucius, Wahsontí:io Kirby as Cornelius, Josue Laboucane as Philario and Jailer, Julie Lumsden as Helen and Ghost Mother, Chris Mejaki as Roman Captain and Briton Servant, Evan Mercer as Second Lord and Ghost Brother 1, Marcus Nance as Jupiter, Anthony Palermo as First Lord and Ghost Brother 2, Jennifer Rider-Shaw as Soldier, Rick Roberts as Duke, Anthony Santiago as Frenchman and Ghost Sicillius, Tara Sky as Queen’s Guard, and Michael Wamara as Guiderius.
The creative team includes Set and Lighting Designer Echo Zhou, Costume Designer Michelle Bohn, Composer Njo Kong Kie, Sound Designer Olivia Wheeler, Fight and Intimacy Director Anita Nittoly and Movement Director Alyssa Martin.
Cymbeline officially opens on May 29 and runs until September 28 at the Tom Patterson Theatre. Tickets are available at stratfordfestival.ca or by calling 1.800.567.1600.
The 2024 season also features Twelfth Night, Something Rotten!, Romeo and Juliet, London Assurance, La Cage aux Folles, Wendy and Peter Pan, Salesman in China, Hedda Gabler, The Diviners, The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? and Get That Hope. For more information, visit stratfordfestival.ca.
The 2024 season is generously supported by Ophelia Lazaridis.
Proud 2024 Season Partners: BMO Financial Group and RBC.
Support for the 2024 season of the Tom Patterson Theatre is generously provided by BMO Financial Group.
Production support is generously provided by The Westaway Charitable Foundation.
CAST (in alphabetical order)
Christopher Allen Cloten
Noah Beemer Arviragus
Caleigh Crow Lady in Waiting, Roman Soldier
Allison Edwards-Crewe Innogen
Jonathan Goad Belarius
Cynthia Jimenez-Hicks Philarmonus (Soothsayer)
Jordin Hall Posthumus Leonatus
Matthew Kabwe Caius Lucius
Wahsontí:io Kirby Cornelius
Josue Laboucane Philario, Jailer
Julie Lumsden Helen, Ghost Mother
Chris Mejaki Roman Captain, Briton Servant
Evan Mercer Second Lord, Ghost Brother 1, Roman Soldier
Marcus Nance Jupiter
Anthony Palermo First Lord, Ghost Brother 2
Lucy Peacock Cymbeline
Irene Poole Pisanio
Jennifer Rider-Shaw Queen’s Guard 2
Rick Roberts Duke
Anthony Santiago Frenchman, Ghost Sicillius
Tyrone Savage Iachimo
Tara Sky Queen’s Guard 1
Michael Wamara Guiderius
ARTISTIC CREDITS
Director Esther Jun
Set and Lighting Designer Echo Zhou
Costume Designer Michelle Bohn
Composer Njo Kong Kie
Sound Designer Olivia Wheeler
Fight and Intimacy Director Anita Nittoly
Movement Director Alyssa Martin
Assistant Director Erika (E.D.) Downie
Assistant Set and Costume Designer Madeline Blondal
Assistant Lighting Designer Simran Kapoor
Associate Fight Director David Chinchilla
Assistant Fight Director Nicolas Van Burek
Stage Manager Melissa Rood
Assistant Stage Manager Martine Beland
Assistant Stage Manager Lily Cardiff
Assistant Stage Manager Holly Korhonen
Production Stage Manager Meghan Callan
Production Stage Manager Elizabeth McDermott
Production Assistant Abby Stevenson
Technical Director Greg Dougherty
