Dream in High Park hosts Queer Night of Twelfth Night with drag opener Hollywood Jade

Dream in High Park, Toronto's beloved outdoor Shakespeare festival, is hosting a special Queer Night performance of Twelfth Night on Friday at the High Park Amphitheatre — a celebration of one of the playwright's most enduring works for LGBTQIA+ audiences.

The production remains true to Shakespeare's original text, but the evening is designed as a welcoming space for Toronto's 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Drag performer Hollywood Jade will introduce the show before audiences settle in beneath the stars, setting a tone of celebration rather than reimagining. Unlike a full production rewrite, this Queer Night keeps the play intact while fostering community among those gathered to watch it.

Canadian Stage Artistic Director Brendan Healy said Twelfth Night's exploration of identity, gender, and love resonates across centuries. "The show's main themes, including identity, gender and love, allow for the centuries-old play to resonate with Queer audiences of the contemporary age," he said. Director Gregory Prest added that the play's themes of gender performance, unconventional romance, and Queer-coded characters make it one of Shakespeare's most enduring works for LGBTQIA+ audiences today.

Dream in High Park is one of the country's biggest and longest-running outdoor professional theatre events, drawing over 30,000 people to High Park Amphitheatre every season. The production is inclusive and family-friendly, bringing Shakespeare to new generations of theatre lovers across the city.