$0.00 0

Cart

No products in the cart.

playing

tickets

season

sponsor

more

unforgettable.

you were kidnapped by william shakespeare and ivana vagina?

may 13-23, 2026

shakespeare under the bed

by caroline russell-king directed with louis b. hobson / world debut

he’s baaaaaaack—he’s funny, he’s furious, and he’s taking over. when a geneticist unleashes william shakespeare into the present day, she’s forced to contain a bard who is louder, queerer, and more outraged than ever. as shakespeare commandeers a theatre, falls in love with a drag queen, and attempts to incite an artistic revolt, what begins as a scientific leap-of-faith soon spirals into a coup that threatens a government takedown.
contemporary comedy.

may 13-23, 2026

the cast

patrick maceachern as will
patrick is an artist making his way through life, living in calgary, treaty 7 territory. he has been an artist for the past 20 plus years. past credits in theatre include reasons to be pretty, 12 angry men, the miracle worker and wedgie. film credits include, wynonna earp, hell on wheels, and global meltdown. patrick would be nothing without his friends, family and community, and a huge thank you to the theatre, and caroline russell-king for this opportunity to get back on the boards. mp
jennifer maclean as polly
jennifer is an award-winning actress, author, and filmmaker. she holds a bfa in theatre, with electives in art and military history, an unusual but ideal combination for someone with a flair for the dramatic who ended up working in a different field altogether. jennifer frequently explores the world of shakespeare and has appeared in such productions as 'much ado about nothing', 'women playing hamlet', 'shakespeare in love', and 'midsummer's jersey'. this is her first show with the theatre.
alex meyer as ivana
alex meyer has performed in and around beds for many years now, but never under them. he is thrilled to have that chance in caroline russell-king's new play. credits include scintilla, the boss of it all, appropriate and double dose of murder. theatre is a special joy for him and he is honoured to be playing alongside such talented people as well as being the first to put to stage caroline's latest work.
john tasker as dennis
john tasker is an actor, writer, and director with a bfa from the university of lethbridge. he has been acting in the city of calgary since the age of 15, and recently started working in film, having directed his first feature this past summer. this is his first show with the theatre and is thrilled to be part of this premiere! recent credits include 'please return to empire video' and the 'weight of a dog'.
abagail vanmerlin as geillis
abagail has performed in canada, scotland and france, and is a graduate of ecole philippe gaulier. abagail is also co-artistic director of the theatre and a documentary filmmaker. abagail is beyond thrilled to be part of this world debut alongside such a devoted and talented team.
an actor without a theatre is like a musician without an instrument—we need a space to risk, to fail, to hit something true. a real theatre is where we meet an audience in the same air and share something alive, unrepeatable, and human.
rico pfeiffer, fight director
rico has been directing and teaching simulated violence not only across canada but also in the united kingdom. he now makes calgary his home with his wonderful wife shelby and their three dogs. select fight directing credits include: murder on the links, a killing snow, peter and the star catcher, wrinkle in time, newsies, peter jackson and the lightning thief, goodnight desdemona goodmorning juliet, ungentlemanly warfare, twelfth night, i was a rat, minotaur, sense and sensibility, dracula a feminist revenge fantasy, beauty and the beast, and twas the night.
caroline russell-king, playwright
this year caroline’s play 'pigeon among the cats' came 3rd in the canadian jewish playwriting competition. in 2024 selma burke (written with maria crooks), premiered at theatre calgary with alberta theatre projects. selma burke won the national playwriting competition, a calgary theatre critics’ award, a betty mitchell theatre award and was a finalist in the sharon pollock playwriting competition. selma was just published by talonbooks. in 2023, high and splendid braveries won the gwen pharis ringwood award for drama. love to gerald, emma, and will.
101, 215 14 av sw
calgary, ab

info@thetheatre.com