Shakespeare in the Ruff brings The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers to Withrow Park for outdoor performances starting Aug. 15

Shakespeare in the Ruff will be performing in Withrow Park beginning this week and continuing through until the first day of September.

This year’s production is The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers that is based on William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest.

Performances begin with preview shows on the evenings of Thursday, Aug. 15, and Friday, Aug. 16, at Withrow Park which is located at 725 Logan Ave. just south of Danforth Avenue.

Opening Night for The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers is on Saturday, Aug. 17.

Further performances are scheduled for Aug. 18, Aug. 20, Aug. 21, Aug. 22, Aug. 24, Aug. 25, Aug. 27, Aug. 28, Aug. 29, Aug. 30, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. All performances of the play begin at 7:30 p.m.

On Aug. 23 and Aug. 24, the performances will be preceded by a Special Young Ruffian Apprenticeship Program presentation at 7 p.m.

The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers is written by Mark Ayache and directed by Kwaku Okyere. The dramaturgy of the production is by Nathaniel Hanula-James.

Shakespeare in the Ruff is a not-for-profit theatre company in East Toronto.

“Using Shakespeare as a foundation, we re-interpret, re-write, and re-new these stories for a contemporary audience,” said Shakespeare in the Ruff’s website. “We push the boundaries of what is possible in outdoor theatre.”

The synopsis for The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers reads:

“In the original, the magician Prospero summons a storm and plots vengeance against the conspirators who abandoned him and his daughter on a remote island. Our adaptation, A Witch in Algiers, decentres Prospero and gives new voice to two neglected characters from the original play: Caliban, Prospero’s servant on the island; and Sycorax, Caliban’s mother, who lived on the island prior to Prospero’s arrival and is never seen, only mentioned, in The Tempest. Ayache weaves a backstory for Sycorax and Caliban that reaches beyond Shakespeare’s island, across the Mediterranean Sea, to the markets and souks of Algiers in North Africa. Blending the Bard’s verse with Ayache’s powerful poetic voice, A Witch in Algiers is a story of loss and defiance that resonates with our current political moment.”

The cast features Ron Kennell as Prospero; Muhaddisah as Sycorax; Naomi Ngebulana as Ariel; Sepehr Reybod as Caliban; Quinlan Shearer as Ferdinand (and others); and Alexia Vassos as Miranda (and others).

Prices for The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers in Withrow Park are on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis; however, guests can reserve a seat in advance at the price point that best suits their needs. For more information on the play, and how to reserve tickets for specific shows, please go to https://shakespeareintheruff.com/the-tempest-awia

Guests are advised to bring personal lawn chairs, blankets, and/or a picnic as regular seating will be on the grass.