Freewill Shakespeare returns to Hawrelak Park this summer

The Freewill Shakespeare Festival is returning home to William Hawrelak Park this summer after three years on the road.

When the park closed for rehabilitation in 2023, the Free Will Players Theatre Guild — which has hosted the festival since 1989 — adapted by performing in backyards, community league ice rinks, and Louise McKinney Riverfront Park. Now that Hawrelak has reopened, the festival is back, but with a new twist.

Instead of playing it safe with a traditional festival, artistic director David Horak and organizers are trying something bold: a collaboration between the Free Will Players, Edmonton Pops Orchestra, and Shelley's Dance Company to stage a musical. The last time the festival tackled a musical was 2007 with an adaptation of The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

This summer's feature is Something Rotten!, a 2015 Broadway comedy about two brothers competing as playwrights against Shakespeare in 1595 London. The show is packed with Shakespeare and musical theatre references, and Horak describes it as "a hilarious, fun musical" with jokes for both theatre nerds and casual audiences.

For traditionalists, Much Ado About Nothing — Shakespeare's comedy about romance and miscommunication set in Italy — leads the lineup. Directed by University of Alberta Shakespeare instructor Ian Leung, it features familiar Edmonton theatre names including Jesse Gervais and Nadien Chu.

The shows run sequentially rather than concurrently: Much Ado About Nothing runs June 17–28, followed by Something Rotten! from July 1–12. Both perform at the Hawrelak Park amphitheatre.

This is the festival's biggest swing in years — a chance to experience new energy at a beloved venue.