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"To be or not to be,
that is the question."
Synopsis
Denmark. Modern day. The King, Hamlet's father, has just died.
The ghost of the dead King has been haunting the battlements, waiting for Hamlet to come and speak to him.
Hamlet has been in mourning since the King's death. Hamlet's mother, Gertrude, seems to have moved on. Quite quickly. She has married her dead husband's brother, Claudius, who is now recognized as King of Denmark.
Hamlet speaks to the ghost of the dead King, who reveals that his death was not natural. But that he was murdered by his brother, the same brother who has since married his wife, and taken his crown.
Hamlet is driven mad by grief and betrayal. The King and Queen enlist friends of the family to try and help Hamlet come out of this cloud of depression. Including Hamlet's beloved Ophelia.
Lines are crossed and lives are lost, in this beautiful and timeless Shakespearean tragedy, widely recognized as one of the greatest scripts in the English canon.
Sound familiar?
Did you know that Disney's, "The Lion King" is based on the story of Hamlet? Admittedly, that movie has a tiny bit happier ending.
In a nutshell
Family drama, power struggles, accidents, murders, madness, and unrequited love all lead to a tragic end.
Shakespeare For All
HELP! I WANT TO SEE THIS SHOW, BUT I'M AFRAID I WON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
Don't worry. You're in good hands. Here are some reviews from our various Shakespeare events!
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💬 Audience Member (Shakespeare Night)
"I have a hard time understanding Shakespeare, but I totally got it when you guys did it."
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💬 Audience Member (Shakespeare Night)
"I understood everything you guys were saying. I got the drama, the jokes, everything!"
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💬 Audience Member (Shakespeare in the Park)
"Wow, that Shakespeare in the Park was amazing. I was there with a group of friends and we all loved it. It was performed SO well!"
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💬 Audience Member (Shakespeare in the Park)
"I never studied Shakespeare in school, so I was sure I wouldn't understand it. But you guys made it make sense. It was incredible!"
HOW DO WE MAKE THE TEXT MAKE SENSE?
Here's our secret formula:
1. An audience-first adaptation. The full script of Hamlet is about 5 hours long (Shakespeare's longest). We've cut it down to 2, making sure to keep the plot tight and easy to follow.
2. We translate the text for ourselves first. The director and actors all make sure they know exactly what each character is saying, and what they mean by it. Every single word.
3. We make it obvious. The acting, the costumes, the props, the lighting, the sound design, all aspects of the show work together to make what's going on as obvious to the audience as possible.
4. A willing audience. If you decide now you're not going to understand it... you're not going to understand it. But, if you decide to trust us... you'll end up seeing a great show that you enjoy!
So there you have it! A guaranteed fantastic night out, taking in one of the greatest plays in history. All for the price of a nice meal.
Steinbach
The Steinbach Arts Council, SCU Studio
🎭 Our Steinbach venue is an intimate and comfortable space, with fantastic sound and lighting quality.
🤩 Virtually every seat in the house is a prime spot, close to the action. You'll be able to see and hear the actors, right up close!
☕️ Pop, water, and ice cream will be available for purchase before the show, and at intermission. Including: PERK Coffee (Manitoba's #1 mobile coffee bar)
🅿️ There is ample free parking available in the lot, and the venue is wheelchair accessible.
⭐️⭐⭐⭐⭐ Audiences will be treated to not just a show, but an intimate, immersive experience!
Winnipeg
The Rachel Browne Theatre
🎭 A gorgeous, intimate theatre, located in the heart of Winnipeg's historic exchange district
🤩 Raised seating for an excellent view of the stage, wherever you sit.
🅿️ Free street parking & wheelchair accessible.
⭐️⭐⭐⭐⭐ Professional sound & lighting for a captivating, immersive experience.
About the Venues
About Looking Glass Theatre
Steinbach's Professional Theatre Company
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Looking Glass Theatre got its start in Community Theatre, as "Looking Glass Productions". Our OG fans will remember the Fringe shows, the camp shows, the university shows, basically any opportunity we could get our hands on. Then, with 15 years of community theatre production behind us, we launched professionally in 2023.
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The company was founded by Marc A. Moir and Laura Kathleen Turner. We both started as performers, and throughout the years have eagerly learned the necessary skills to take on show production. So now, we can take a single idea; write it, cast it, costume it, build the set, market it, and perform it at a professional level.
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But it's not just about making opportunities for ourselves. There are two other goals that have driven us from the beginning: To create shows that (1) audiences want to see, and (2) actors want to be part of. And we think our reviews speak for themselves!
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We think live theatre should be a fun, immersive experience that audiences can escape in to. If you want to pull out a "message" or "meaning" from the play, you totally can! But we're never going to force a message; political, religious, or otherwise. At the end of the day, for us, the focus is always going to be on entertainment, artistry, and value for ticket price.
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And, you'll often see the same actors on stage throughout the season. This is intentional! We have found some of the best actors Manitoba has to offer, and we want to show off their versatility!
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So there you have it! We are Steinbach's professional theatre company: Bringing fun and exciting live theatre to Steinbach, Morden, and Winnipeg, by holding up a mirror (or, "looking glass") to the human experience, and putting a spotlight on all the beauty to be found there.