About Us


​Shakespeare by the Sea Festival Inc. is a community-based, registered charity that operates in and around St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

We are an essential component of the arts ecosystem in our region that produces and promotes artistic work with a focus on Shakespeare.

We unite seasoned and developing talent and set a standard of excellence for all of our endeavours.

We are inspired by the unique people and landscapes of our area.

The Shakespeare By The Sea Festival is the longest running outdoor summer theatre event in the St. John's area, entering its 34th season in 2026.

History

In 1993, a group from Memorial University called "Dick's Kids" (so-named for MUN English professor/actor/mentor Richard Buehler) wanted to experiment with outdoor theatre. They decided to produce The Tempest, by William Shakespeare, on the cliffs of Logy Bay, with nothing but the sea and sky (and the occasional whale) as backdrop. Directed by Tony Chadwick and starring Dick Buehler, Sean Panting, Petrina Bromley, and Aiden Flynn, with a budget of $500, a cashbox, and some tights, Shakespeare by the Sea was born, co-founded by Flynn and Danielle Irvine.

​Since then, the Shakespeare By The Sea Festival has been performing the works of that famous Bard all around the St. John's area – from the cliff-top meadows of Logy Bay to the historic World War Two bunkers at Cape Spear – from the cobblestoned courtyard of the Murray Premises to the lush landscapes of Bowring Park. Since that time, the Festival has grown into a much-anticipated annual event.
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The festival strives to serve the community in two ways: by presenting quality theatre on our province’s unique and rugged landscapes for the enjoyment of locals and tourists alike; and by mentoring the company members that make the shows possible. Over our 25-year history, alumni have gone on to further artistic success here in our province and at places like the Stratford Festival, as well as to serve the community in many capacities beyond the arts. The rigorous artistic process we lead each summer sets alumni up for success in many walks of life.

Artistic directors
Aiden Flynn & Danielle Irvine (1993-1995)
Jenn Deon (1995-2015)
Ian Campbell (2015-2017)
Paul Rowe (2017-2021)
Mallory Clarke (2021-2023)
Sharon King-Campbell (2023-current)

Production History

  • 1993 - The Tempest
  • 1994 - King Lear
  • 1995 - Twelfth Night
  • 1996 - Macbeth; Romeo & Juliet
  • 1997 - Macbeth; Hamlet; I Hate Hamlet; Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead
  • 1998 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
  • 1999 - Much Ado About Nothing; Richard III
  • 2000- The Mousetrap; Julius Caesar; Love's Labour's Lost
  • 2001 - Dial M for Murder; Two Gentlemen of Verona; The Merchant of Venice; A Streetcar Named Desire 
  • 2002 - The Tempest; Twelfth Night
  • 2003 - The Importance of Being Earnest; Othello; Romeo & Juliet; The Cask of Amontillado; The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)
  • 2004 - As You Like It; The Winter's Tale
  • 2005 - Henry V 
  • 2006 - The Two Noble Kinsmen; A Midsummer Night's Dream; Dear Brutus
  • 2007 - Macbeth; The Comedy of Errors ; The Rats in the Walls / The Cask of Amontillado
  • 2008 - Macbeth
  • 2008 - Merry Wives of Windsor; Much Ado About Nothing; Anthony and Cleopatra; The Rats in the Walls / The Cask of Amontillado
  • 2009 - The Tempest; Romeo & Juliet; The Tell-Tale Heart / The Cask of Amontillado / The Signal-Man; The Tunes and Tales of Newfoundland; Fairy Tale Mix-Up
  • 2010 - Love's Labour's Lost; Troilus & Cressida; The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged); Fairy Tale Mix-Up; The Tunes and Tales of Newfoundland; The Rats in the Walls / The Signal-Man, The Cask of Amontillado
  • ​2011 - Hamlet; Twelfth Night; Above and Below; The Curious Case of the Colony: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure; The Tunes and Tales of Newfoundland
  • 2012 - King Lear; A Midsummer Night's Dream; The Curious Case of the Colony: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure; Above and Below.
  • 2013 - Harvey; Julius Caesar; Cymbeline; The Curious Case of the Colony: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure; Shake It Up!; Tunes and Tales with Kelly Russell
  • 2014 - The Taming of the Shrew; All's Well that Ends Well; The Curious Case of the Colony: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure; Shake It Up!; Tunes and Tales with Kelly Russell; Shylock
  • 2015 - The Comedy of Errors; The Great Shakespearean Walking Tour - Scenes from Britain; The Great Shakespearean Walking Tour - The Course of True Love; The Curious Case of the Colony: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure; Shake It Up!; Tunes and Tales with Kelly Russell
  • 2016 - Richard III; A Midsummer Night's Dream; Salt-Water Moon; Shake It Up!; Tunes and Tales with Kelly Russell
  • 2017 - The Tempest; Timon of Athens; Soldier's Heart; Shake It Up!; Tunes and Tales with Kelly Russell
  • 2018 - As You Like It;  Shake It Up!; Tunes and Tales with Kelly Russell
  • 2019 - Macbeth; The Comedy of Errors; Tunes and Tales with Kelly Russell
  • 2020 - Pericles, Prince of Tyre (virtual presentation); Shakespeare Shorts
  • 2021 - Pericles, Prince of Tyre, Depths of Desire: Have you reached the bottom yet (virtual); Tunes and Tales with Kelly Russell
  • 2022 - Coriolanus; The Cherry Orchard
  • 2023 - Much Ado About Nothing; Romeo and Juliet; Picnic in the Backyard
  • 2024 - The Winter's Tale; Twelfth Night
  • 2025 - The Merry Wives of Windsor; Love's Labours Lost; Bottome the Weaver
Picture
Cast and Crew of 1993's THE TEMPEST