Participants in Globus Theatre’s Youth Winter Arts Program are bringing a 14th-century classic of English literature to life on the stage at the Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon for two performances on April 19 and 20.
Under the direction of Rebecca Anne Bloom, the company of young actors will perform Lindsay Price’s stage adaptation of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, who has been called the father of English literature.
“The Canterbury Tales is very Monty-Python-esque and I know audiences will enjoy this fantastic story, told with theatrical flair,” says director Rebecca Anne Bloom in a media release.
An English poet, author, and civil servant, Chaucer is best known the collection of 24 stories running to over 17,000 lines which he wrote in Middle English between 1387 and 1400. Chaucer presents his tales, mostly written in verse with some in prose, as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together from London to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral, with the winner receiving a free meal when they return to London.
Playwright Lindsay Price of Theatrefolk, a publisher of theatrical scripts for schools and student performers, has turned The Canterbury Tales into a two-act comic play in modern English featuring a range of characters from Chaucer’s work, including from the Miller’s Tale, the Prioress’ Tale, the Reeve’s Tale, the Wife of Bath’s Tale, and more.
In the Globus Theatre production, 13 young actors will perform as 30 different characters — with numerous costume changes in the process — featuring spirited jokes, exuberant adventure, and even a dance number or two.
“This is my favourite type of work to do in the theatre industry,” Bloom says. “What starts as simply a script, gradually changes and transforms after every rehearsal. All these young people have brought forward their creative ideas for the characters, costumes, set pieces, and scenes, making this a fully collaborative production.”
The Canterbury Tales will run for two evening performances only at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 19th and Saturday, April 20th. Tickets are $10 plus HST, and are available online at globustheatre.com/soda-home or by calling the Globus Theatre box office at 705-738-2037.
Part of Globus Theatre’s School of Dramatic Art (SODA), the Youth Winter Arts Program began last year as a pilot program, with participants staging a sold-out production of Allison Williams’ Mmmbeth, a comedic take on Shakespeare’s iconic play Macbeth. This year’s program was supported by the Bobcaygeon Legacy C.H.E.S.T. fund, allowing youth to participate free of charge.
