ON STAGE

Performed by Tricklock Company with Special Guests

Directed by Kathleen Weiss, University of Alberta (Edmonton, Canada)

Cymbeline is one of Shakespeare's most intricately woven, fast paced tales of deception and disguise. The lovely Imogen, daughter of the British king Cymbeline, goes against her father's wishes and marries a lowborn gentleman, Posthumus, instead of the king's oafish stepson, Cloten. Cloten is the son of Cymbeline's new Queen, a villainous woman who has made the king her puppet. Posthumus is exiled, where he takes on a wager from Iachimo, who bets he can seduce Imogen and prove women unfaithful. Imogen refuses him so Iachimo hides in her bedroom and spies on her, later telling intimate details about her to Posthumus, who furiously orders her murder. All hell breaks loose. Imogen disguises herself as a man and flees. Cloten chases her. Imogen's long lost previously kidnapped brothers appear, also in disguise, and no one recognizes each other. The Queen tries to kill the King, Imogen drinks poison, Cloten fights a bloody duel, Posthumus joins the army and disguises himself as a Roman. Only the intervention of a deity could sort this mess out.

Guest director Kathleen Weiss has an extensive background as a professional theatre director, artistic director, dramaturge, and playwright. The innovative productions of Shakespeare which she directed at Tamahnous Theatre are well known across Canada. Weiss is an expert in the generation of theatrical text from improvisation and images, and will be working with the Tricklock ensemble on a fierce, streamlined adaptation. Tricklock Company, known for their huge physicality and imaginative twists on classic tales, (Macbett, Dracula) will take this riotous script to new, bloody and exciting heights.