2024 Cowichan Valley Shakespeare Festival

Gem O’ the Isle

August 7, 2024 - August 18, 2024

The Shawnigan Players are back for our 13th season of the Cowichan Valley Shakespeare Festival! Come enjoy our outdoor performances at the enchanting Gem o’ the Isle Farm, where orchards, pastures, and beautiful Koksilah skies frame our retellings of two of Shakespeare’s delightful early romantic comedies.

Love’s Labour’s Lost explores desire, loyalty, patience, and the unstoppable forces of love. In a bid to devote themselves entirely to study, King Ferdinand and his three lords make a pact to swear off all earthly pleasures, especially the society of women. But when the princess of France arrives with her charming and clever entourage, their resolve is tested! Live music and period costumes bring a refreshing “Summer of Love” vibe to director Rob Foell’s1960s-themed version of this timeless story.

In The Two Gentlemen of Verona, a pair of lifelong friends discover the intoxication of love and the pitfalls of betrayal. This madcap romp features romance, jealousy, adventure, deceit, and the sourest-natured dog that lives. Part fairy tale, part sitcom, this playful yet poignant story comes alive with director Alex Gallacher’s signature balance of pathos and lunacy.